Seventy-seven randomly chosen herds were personally surveyed for management information. Dairymen were questioned for 1.5 hours about milking systems and practices, feeding, reproductive and genetic aspects of breeding, calf raising and finances. Seventeen non-DHI herds were included. Objectives of the study were to assemble data that described farm management practices not found in DHI records and to relate these data to four measures of profitability. Type of milking system accounted for production differences of 680 kg less milk for herds milking in flatbarns in contrast to parlors. Parlor type had no effect. Dry cow treatment reduced mastitis. A count of six recommended milking practices showed an annual increase of 246 kg milk. per cow per practice implemented. Optimal ages of first calving were found for average production, net cash income per cow and profit per cow. These were 35,29 and 26 months, respectively. Genetic indices failed to explain differences in production or profitability. Feeding programs accounted for the largest portion of expenses and were of great importance to profitability and production. Income over feed cost and feed cost as a percentage of total expense were most important, with major forage fed and degree of crop analysis having significant effects on profits. Models using investment per cow, debt per cow, average interest rate and net income per cow were good predictors of profitability (R² = .29 to .52). DHI herds were 383 kg superior to non-DHI herds in annual milk per cow, had 15 more cows and $81 more net cash income per cow, none significant. Higher production per cow led to more net cash income per cow except for medium-sized herds. / Master of Science

Pasture-based dairy farming is the major land use in the Tsitsikamma region of the Eastern Cape. Permanent kikuyu grass (Pennisetum clandestinum) dominates pastures in the region. Kikuyu pastures do not, however, provide adequate year-round quality feed for dairy cows. This has led to the use of annually sown pastures with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) to provide winter forage. Soil degradation under this management has, however, become recognised as a major limitation. Soil quality and degradation under annual and permanent pasture in the region were evaluated in three separate studies. These were (i) an investigation of the extent of loss of soil organic matter and related soil microbial properties and aggregate stability under annual pastures, (ii) a comparison of soil physical properties under annual and permanent pastures and (iii) a survey of the nutrient status of soils and pasture herbage in the region. In the first study, four commercial dairy farms, situated on sites which represented the three main soil groups in the region were sampled, were taken from under permanent kikuyu pastures, annual ryegrass pastures and undisturbed native vegetation nearby. In comparison with undisturbed, native vegetation, soils under both annually cultivated and permanent pasture had gained soil organic matter on the sandy, low rainfall eastern end of the Tsitsikamma. By contrast, at the higher rainfall, finer-textured, western end, where the native vegetation consists of coastal forest, there was a loss of soil organic matter under both types of pasture. Despite this, soil organic C content was lower under annual ryegrass than permanent kikuyu pasture at all the sites reflecting the degrading effect of annual cultivation on soil organic matter. As a consequence, labile, K(2)S0(4) - extractable C, microbial biomass C, basal respiration, arginine ammonification, flourescein diacetate hydrolysis rates and aggregate stability were all less under annual ryegrass than permanent kikuyu pastures at all the sites. The effects of annual ryegrass and permanent kikuyu pastures on soil physical properties and root length density were compared with those of undisturbed native vegetation on the four experimental sites. Root density and the depth of rooting were much less under annual ryegrass than under kikuyu pastures or native vegetation. There was no consistent effect of improved pastures or pasture type on bulk density and total porosity or penetrometer resistance, although annual pasture soils generally had higher bulk densities and lower total porosities than those under native vegetation. There was a tendency for smaller saturated hydraulic conductivity and air permeability under ryegrass than kikuyu pastures, regardless of whether total porosity was higher or lower under ryegrass. This was attributed to annual cultivation and subsequent natural consolidation causing a decrease in pore continuity under ryegrass pastures. Penetrometer resistance values confirmed the presence of subsoil compacted layers at two annual ryegrass pasture sites. At one such site, subsoil tillage was effective in reducing penetrometer resistance and bulk density, increasing pore continuity (as evaluated by hydraulic conductivity and air permeability) and greatly increasing root density and rooting depth. The nutrient status of soil and herbage from annual ryegrass and permanent kikuyu pastures sampled from 40 dairy farms in the Tsitsikamma region were evaluated. Along with the decreased organic matter content, there was a decrease in soil pH and a loss of exchangeable cations under annual pastures. Large concentrations of extractable P and sometimes exchangeable K were measured in soils under both ryegrass and kikuyu pastures and it was concluded that the rates of applied P, and sometimes K, were often excessive (particularly under kikuyu). Various nutritional problems were also identified. These included the need for Ca supplementation, particularly under kikuyu, due to the low herbage Ca concentrations. The low Ca : P ratio measured in annual ryegrass pastures, and more particularly in kikuyu herbage, highlighted the low Ca content of herbage and also the tendency of kikuyu grass to accumulate large concentrations of P. The large K concentrations and high K : Ca +Mg ratios identified in pasture herbage suggest the potential for animal nutritional problems such as hypomagnesaemia. It was concluded that although kikuyu is an excellent pasture in terms of dry matter production it tends to be deficient in Ca (and sometimes Na) and can contain prohibitively high K levels, which are likely to induce Mg deficiencies in grazing animals. The micronutrient concentrations in herbage were generally adequate, although copper concentrations tended to be low suggesting that fertilizer applications and/or feed supplementation is required. It was concluded that annual conventional tillage results in a substantial loss of soil organic matter, soil microbial activity and aggregate stability under annual ryegrass pastures when compared to those under permanent kikuyu grass. This loss of soil organic matter can result in natural consolidation of the soil in the cultivated layer and exasperated through treading by the grazing cows. The annual cultivation can also lead to the formation of a subsoil compacted layer. Nonetheless, compaction can also occur under permanent pasture presumably due to treading damage. Careful management to avoid treading damage to pastures should be practised. In order to protect the organic matter status of annual pastures, direct drilling of such pastures should be seriously considered. In some cases, annual fertilizer P rates (and to lesser extent those of K) could be reduced considerably since the levels accumulated in the soils are excessive. / Thesis (M.Sc.Agric.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2002.

Precision dairy farming technologies provide a variety of functions to dairy farmers. Little is known about dairy producer perception of these technologies. A study was performed to understand dairy producer perception of parameters monitored by precision dairy farming technologies. Calving has potential to be predicted using these same parameters and technologies. A second study was performed using two commercially marketed technologies in calving prediction. In order for these technologies to generate accurate and useful information for dairy farm use, they must accurately quantify these parameters. The final study evaluated the accuracy of five commercially marketed technologies in monitoring feeding, rumination, and lying behaviors.

PhDRDV / Institute for Rural Development / As has been the case in Eastern and Southern Africa, Zimbabwe continues to regard smallholder dairy farming as a viable strategy for reducing poverty and malnutrition, especially in rural areas. Although the country has since the early 1980s been promoting smallholder dairy development, available literature does not provide a clear picture of the extent to which the specific livelihoods of rural communities in terms of human, social, physical and financial capitals, have improved. Nor is there knowledge on its negative contribution to the farmers’ livelihoods. Thus, this study was undertaken to critically analyse the contribution of smallholder dairy farming towards the livelihoods of rural households using the Nharira dairy scheme as a focal area. The DfiD sustainable livelihood framework was used to build this understanding. Apart from characterizing the farmers, the contribution of smallholder dairy farming towards social, physical, human, natural and financial capitals was investigated. A sequentially integrated mixed methods approach was used. This was divided into two phases, which were quantitative and qualitative in nature. Results from the first phase were used to inform and design the second study. A census of the 21 active smallholder dairy farmers in Nharira, and management committee of the Nharira dairy processing plant was conducted. A household-focused questionnaire, key informant interviews, participatory mapping, record review, Global Positioning System (GPS) locating and focus group discussions were used to collect data. A tape recorder, GPS locator and camera were used as assistive devices during data collection. Thematic content analysis was used to analyse qualitative data and interpret participatory maps. Livelihood capital indices were derived per household and used to complement descriptive statistics as part of quantitative data analysis. A social capital index was computed for each household using collective action, empowerment, groups and networks, and trust and solidarity as its components. Resource stocks and access were the building blocks of the natural capital index. Income, savings and investments, and access to funding were used to derive the household financial capital index. Contribution of dairy farming to productive equipment (such as cattle herd size) and basic infrastructure (such as quality of housing) were used to calculate the physical capital index. The index for human capital was obtained taking into account education, workforce and employment, enabling environment, and health and wellness. Equal weights were applied to the components when deriving the household livelihood indices because each one of them was considered to be substantially important for sustainable livelihoods. The quantitative data were stored and analysed using the International Business Machines (IBM) Statistical iii Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 24. Pearson correlation coefficients, means and standard deviations were calculated. Most of the farmers (65 %) were female. Approximately, 95 % of the women farmers were literate. Only 1 % of the farmers were youth (< 35 years old), a situation that threatened the sustainability of smallholder dairy farming. A daily smallholder dairy farming routine was derived using the focus group and participatory mapping results. This showcased the various daily activities and linked them with the household members actively involved. Smallholder dairy farming was found to be labour intensive. This might deter the farmers from diversifying into other livelihood strategies. Smallholder dairy farming was observed to have strengthened financial, human, natural, physical and social capitals in the local households. However, the respective indices of 0.59 and 0.52 for social and natural capitals, suggested that smallholder dairy farming impacted on these more than any other. Even though social capital was strong, further reinforcement through improved smallholder dairy farming activities was still vital because of its power of enhancing access to other forms of livelihood capitals. Human and physical capitals had the least index scores of 0.48 and 0.47, respectively. On average, the overall household livelihood capital index as a result of smallholder dairy farming was 0.51. One of the study respondents supported the positive contribution in the following way, ‘’Zvakanakira dairy hatingazipedzi. Tinotoda zuva rese” (There are many positive things that we attribute to our involvement in smallholder dairy farming. Narrating these demands considerable time). It was concluded that smallholder dairy farming significantly strengthened livelihood capitals of households involved in it. The results of the current study suggest that smallholder dairy farming is a viable option for improving household livelihood capitals. Thus, establishment of dairy farming schemes in rural areas should be promoted. However, the participation of youth in smallholder dairy farming as enterprise owners deserves attention because it threatens sustainability of the sector. An integrated multiple angle view encompassing technical, social, institutional, economic and organizational ideas of the impact of dairy farming as a livelihood strategy on household capital portfolio was provided. Moreover, application of the sustainable development framework to understanding the smallholder dairy farming context at household level was a novel way of understanding the local realities. Lastly, a set of variables that can be utilised to measure livelihood capitals of households involved in smallholder dairy farming-related activities was distilled.

Two trials were conducted to determine the effect of protein degradability (low (LD) vs high (HD)) and evaporative cooling (shade cooling vs shade) on performance of 60 lactating Holstein cows in mid-lactation. Cooling and the LD diet increased milk production, 3.5% FCM and feed efficiency in trial 1 (24 cows) while in trial 2 (36 cows) LD diet increased milk production and feed efficiency and cooling did not exert a significant effect. Differences between trials were probably due to higher environmental temperature humidity indexes (77.0 vs 72.0), and a higher quality of the rumen bypass protein in the LD diet in trial 2 than trial 1. Cooling reduced respiration rates in trial 1 and respiration rates, rectal and inner ear temperatures in trial 2. Eating patterns were unaffected by protein degradability or cooling.

This study investigated the hypothesis that the particulate content of milk, as monitored with particle counters, is correlated to the health status of lactating dairy cows, in particular the condition mastitis. Twenty Holstein cows were monitored from the very first day of clinical mastitis outbreak until complete recovery from the disease. During the experiment, the changes in particle behaviour in all four quarters and mixture of milk from all of them were measured. For each sample the following parameters were measured: somatic cell count, fat content, lactose and protein concentration, number and size distribution of milk particles, electric conductivity and diameter of milk fat globules. In total over thirty mastitis outbreaks were observed and monitored throughout, including the first phase of this study when over three thousand samples of foremilk were collected and examined. An operational protocol and particle monitoring device were designed with the help of a commercial company Facility Monitoring Systems Ltd (FMS), Malvern. A particle counter and Peak Height Analyser (PHA) were used to monitor particulate content of milk and a compound phase contrast microscope was used to identify milk particles by photographic visualisation and to establish their diameter. It was observed that the number of particles, milk fat globule diameter and somatic cell counts were stable during periods without udder inflammation. Mastitis caused great changes in these parameters. Both milk particulate size and number were significantly affected by clinical and subclinical form of inflammation (change to the particulate behaviour). It was observed that the changes to the volume median diameter (VMD) of fat globules became evident a few days before clinical signs were present. Results obtained from a particle counter and the PHA were in agreement with data obtained by microscopy. Major changes were recorded in the number of total particles in milk before and during the outbreak of mastitis. Further research showed that changes took place in the pattern of particulate behaviour without visible signs of disease; additional data established that subclinical mastitis can be also identified through the monitoring of particles in milk. In summary monitoring of the behaviour (changes to size and number) of milk fag globules (MFG) can be used as an early indicator of the onset of mastitis. In addition data collected during study produced strong evidence supporting the theory of the interdependence of the quarters within the udder. It was found that the coefficient of correlation for size and number of particles for all four quarters within the udder was statistically significant. Particle counts and the VMD values behaviour were similar for the four quarters. This relationship was observed for all monitored animals. Moreover, the same relationship was also observed during both clinical and subclinical outbreaks of mastitis. Somatic cell count was affected only in an infected quarter while particulate content of milk ―responded‖ to disease in all four quarters within the udder (even if only one was infected). These results were the most surprising and unexpected outcome, suggesting that four quarters within the udder work together as one organ not four separate units. It was observed that the mean MFG cannot be used as a baseline to test individual animal deviations due to the unique particle profile of each observed animal. In all monitored animals particle counts obtained from PHA was found to be in the range of 1011 to 1013 with an average of 1012 particles per ml. The number of particles recorded in mastitis for one animal was at the healthy level for another. The particle pattern became a finger print for each animal and therefore MFG behaviour cannot be compared between animals. Following the first phase of the study the monitoring period was set at 15 to 20 days. This protocol allowed for minimising the influence of any other parameters on particles, which may influence the outcome of an experiment e.g. the number of particles in single samples detected by the particle counter. It was also essential to understand how the age, nutrition and stage of lactation might influence the particles and affect the results. Therefore two animals were chosen to be examined during their lactation. The analysed data did not present enough evidence to establish the relationship between nutrition and milk fat globules size and number. However to better understand this association additional studies should be carried out. Further work is required to optimise the monitoring device and build a fully automated system which will allow collecting and analysing data from the whole herd. This study proposed that particle pattern is unique for each animal – like a finger print. More research is needed to better understand the mechanism behind milk fat globules synthesis during inflammation. The results obtained during this study provide new evidence with regard to physiological changes within the udder before and during mastitis outbreak and supported the theory of interdependence between quarters within udder. The particle count in milk can be used as an indicator of the health status of the single animal. Combined the PHA and microscope can be used as a new tool to determine and monitor the particle count in milk. The understanding of the particulate behaviour will help to minimise the chance of mastitis outbreak by early detection and also to reduce the chance of the cross-contamination between animals during the milking process. Milk fat globule size and number can be used as an efficient indicator of the onset of mastitis.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis uses dairy farming in colonial Zimbabwe/Southern Rhodesia as a lens to explore the intersection of economic, social and environmental factors in colonial agriculture from the 1890s until 1951, when a new regulatory framework was introduced for the industry. It examines the complex and fluid interactions between the colonial state and farmers (both white and black), and the manner in which these interactions shaped and reshaped policy within the context of the local political economy and the changing global economic conditions. It examines the competing interests of the colonial state and farmers, and how these tensions played out in the formulation and implementation of dairy development policy over time. This thesis demonstrates that these contestations profoundly affected the trajectory of an industry that started as a mere side-line to the beef industry until it had become a central industry in Southern Rhodesia’s agricultural economy by the late 1940s. Thus, besides filling a historiographical gap in existing studies of Southern Rhodesia’s agricultural economy, the thesis engages in broader historiographical conversations about settler colonial agricultural policy and the role of the state and farmers in commercial agriculture. Given the fractured nature of colonial administration in Southern Rhodesia, this study also discusses conflicts among government officials. It demonstrates how these differences affected policy formulation and implementation, especially regarding African commercial dairy production. This thesis also explores the impact of a segregationist agricultural policy, particularly focusing on prejudices about the “African body” and hygiene. It shows how this shaped the character of both African and white production trends. It demonstrates that Africans were unevenly affected by settler policy, as some indigenous people continued to compete with white farmers at a time when existing regulations were intended to exclude them from the colonial dairy industry. It argues that although dairy farming had grown to be a strong white-dominated industry by 1951, the history of dairy farming during the period under review was characterised by contestations between the state and both white and African farmers. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis gebruik suiwelboerdery in koloniale Zimbabwe/Suid-Rhodesie as ’n lens om die ekonomiese, sosiale en omgewingsgerigte kruispunte in koloniale landbou van omstreeks 1890 t 1951 toe ‘n nuwe regulatoriese raamwerk vir suiwelboerdery ingestel is te, ondersoek. Die komplekse en vloeibare interaksies tussen die koloniale staat en boere (wit sowel as swart) en die wyse waarop hierdie interaksies beleid binne die konteks van die plaaslike politieke ekonomie en die globale ekonomiese omstandighede gevorm en hervorm het, word ondersoek. Hierbenewens word gelet op die spanninge tussen die belange van die koloniale staat en die boere (wit sowel as swart) en hoe hierdie spanning oor tyd in die formulering en implementering van suiwelbeleid gemanifested het. Hierdie tesis demonstreer dat di spanninge en stryd ’n diepgaande uitwerking gehad het op ’n bedryf wat aanvanklik as ondergeskik tot die vleisbedryf begin het, naar teen die leat as ‘n sentrale veertigerjere bedryf in die Rhodesiëse landelike ekonomie uitgekristalliseer het. Benewens die feit dat die proefakrif ’n historiografiese leemte in bestaande koloniale Zimbabwe aangespreek, vorm dit ook deel van ’n breër historiografiese diskoers ten opsigte van setlaar koloniale landbou in Zimbabwe en die rol van die staat en boere in kommersiële landbou. Vanweё die gefragmenteerde aard van koloniale administrasie in Suid-Rhodesië, fokus die tesis ook op die konflikte tussen regeringsamptenare en hoe hierdie geskille veral beleidsformulering en implementering ten opsigte van swart kommersiële suiwelboerdery beïnvloed het. Vervolgens word die uitwerking van ’n landboubeleid geliasear of segragasi onder die loep geneem met spesiale verwysing na die geskiktheid van swartmense vir kommersiële suiwelboerdery en hoe dit die aard en karakter van beide swart sowel as wit produksie tendense beïnvloed het. Daar word aangedui dat swartmense nie eenvormig deur setlaarsbeleid geraak is nie aangesien van hulle met wit boere meegeding het op ’n stadium toe die heersende regulasies daerop gemik was oin baie van hulle uit die koloniale suiwelbedryfwit te slint. Die sentrale argument is dat hoewel suiwelboerdery sterk wit gedomineerd was teen 1951, die geskiedenis van die bedryf gedurende die tydperk onder bespreking gekenmerk is deur stryd en konflite tussen die staat en wit sowel as swart boere.

Two production trials were conducted for 84 d each. The first with 22 Holstein cows in late lactation. The second with 46 Holstein cows in early lactation. Treatments were C (control) and AO (A. oryzae 3g/d). Diets were for production trial 1 a 1:1 forage: concentrate ratio; for trial 2 was 2:3. Milk production in trial 1 was higher (P > .05) in AO fed cows during the first weeks of the trial. In trial two AO cows consistently produced more milk (P < .03). Rectal temperatures during hot weather (over 35°C) were consistently lower in AO fed cows, though not significant (P > .10). Two digestibility trials followed the production trials. For all digestion trials, Cr₂O₃ was used as digesta marker. In trial one AO tended to increase digestibility of DM (P > .10). In trial two digestibilities of DM, NDF and ADF were higher in AO fed cows (P < .05). Three other trials were conducted with mature Holstein cows fitted with ruminal and duodenal cannulae. The first trial tested two levels of forage (1:2 vs 2:1; forage to concentrate) and C vs AO in a 4x4 latin square design. AO increased (P < .05) ADF digestibility in the high concentrate died. No change (P > .10) in rumen pH, concentrations and proportions of VFA, and ammonia concentrations resulted from AO treatments. In the second trial C, AO and SC (Saccharomyces cerevesiae 3 g/d) were compared in a repeated 3x3 latin square design. A 1:2 forage to concentrate diet was fed to six lactating cows. Both AO and SC increased (P < .05) rumen NDF digestibility. The third trial compared C vs AO in a swithchback design with four lactating cows fed a 2:3 forage to concentrate diet. AO increased (P < .05) rumen fiber digestion. AO did not affect rates of passage of corn or alfalfa hay; or the potentially digestible DM of milo, alfalfa hay or wheat straw. AO did increase (P < .05) digestion rate of alfalfa DM. In vitro AO increased DM digestibility. That effect can be reproduced by incorporation of the additive at the time of inoculation.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / A major and unresolved challenge facing South Africa’s post-apartheid government, is how best to overcome the historical injustices of land dispossession and the resultant poverty now found in the communal areas of the former 'homelands'. In line with the South African government’s hybrid of neo-liberal and social welfare approaches to development, one important strategy for addressing these challenges has so far been the promotion of inclusive business models such as joint ventures (JVs), especially in the context of land restitution claims, but also in communal areas. This study explores the impacts of the JV model on livelihoods and land rights and use, and engages with key debates regarding the dynamics of class formation in the former 'homelands' of South Africa. The study undertakes a comparative analysis of two Joint Venture (JV) dairy farms, involving the same agribusiness partner, Amadlelo Agri. The farms are located on irrigation schemes in the former Ciskei of South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province. The JVs involve residents from the rural settlements of Keiskammahoek and Shiloh, as both landowners and workers. The comparative case study presented here illustrates quite divergent outcomes when the same JV model is implemented in different rural settlements, most powerfully because of differences in the class structure of each settlement. Class analysis helps to explain the more intense intragroup conflicts that have emerged around the JV in Shiloh. Intragroup dynamics and conflicts, which have historical roots extending beyond the implementation of the JV intervention, are also critical to understanding divergent outcomes. A class-analytic approach assists in understanding the tensions that the JV model of capitalist farming generates in relation to household reproduction, in a class-differentiated manner. The sole focus in much of the literature on agricultural investments has been on relationships between agribusiness, and what are too often portrayed as homogenous 'communities’. However, this thesis illustrates that this approach is misleading when applied to analysis of the real politics on the ground. Struggles over jobs, dividends and land take place within highly differentiated communities. Investigating the inter- and intra-household distribution of JV benefits and risks is central to understanding the impacts of the JV on livelihoods and incomes, and also the emerging contentions and conflicts. To this end, I explore how class interacts with other aspects of social difference, particularly gender, kinship, ethnicity, race, generation and religious affiliation. A class-analytic approach is significant because it illuminates the emerging agrarian class structure that a JV-type intervention both reflects and in turn conditions, in dialectical fashion. It thus allows exploration of the implications of the JV model for wider processes of agrarian change in South Africa. Although there is evidence of livelihood benefits being derived by some households, as well as limited opportunities for accumulation, the JV model does not appear to stimulate the emergence of a class of productive black farmers. Significantly, the study could not identify any households as 'middle farmers', reliant on 'accumulation from below', which many authors consider to be a more progressive, dynamic and desirable pathway of agrarian reform. The JV model is at risk of equating ‘black emerging farmers’ with a group of customary landowners, who are in reality workers and 'passive recipients' of JV dividends and land rents.

Submitted by Erika Demachki (erikademachki@gmail.com) on 2014-08-26T21:30:58Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) Versão final - Pós-defesa prof Alcido e Adriano 11.06.pdf: 1952980 bytes, checksum: 3f3e8bdb9dc26c90916767a0e0d98693 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2014-08-26T21:30:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) Versão final - Pós-defesa prof Alcido e Adriano 11.06.pdf: 1952980 bytes, checksum: 3f3e8bdb9dc26c90916767a0e0d98693 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-04-25 / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Goiás - FAPEG / This thesis aims to show the results of a research carried out on the marketing of milk. Comparing two settlements: Luiz Orio, linked to the Federation of Agricultural Workers of the State of Goiás (FETAEG), and Carlos Mariguela, linked to the Landless Rural Workers Movement (MST), both located in the municipality of Itaberaí in northwest Goiás. The objective is to verify how the level of social, political, economic and technological organization of settler families contributes to insert them in marketing milk market. To meet the research objectives, was traced the socioeconomic profile of settler families, taking into account aspects such as family size, composition, income, education level and time settled. Aspects of organization, production and marketing were considered, from some analytical variables: a) collective or individual work; b) production and marketing of fresh milk and/or dairy products; c) the marketing channels used; d) if the link with the MST and FETAEG interferes with the degree of integration in the milk market. d) if the link with the MST and FETAEG interferes with the degree of integration in the milk market. To achieve the objectives proposed in the research, the following methodological procedures were adopted: first, a literature review and a desk research were performed to verify the status of the marketing of milk and rural settlements. It is concluded that the dairy industry is one of the strategies of economic and social reproduction in rural settlements, it plays an important role in generating employment and income. Also, it is concluded that the forms of social organization, political, economic and technological present in the two settlements, contribute to integration of these families in the milk chain in the municipality of Itaberaí, but this inclusion is given in a subordinate manner. Given that, the dairy industry does not have autonomy and control over their income, because the largest portion of the profit is in the hands of dairy. It is necessary minimally benefit the production to reach other markets through a cooperative. Enabling greater ownership of income from milk by the resettled families, rather than transferring it to capital through the dairy. / Este trabalho se propõe a apresentar os resultados da pesquisa desenvolvida sobre a comercialização do leite. Comparando-se dois assentamentos: Luiz Ório, vinculado à Federação dos Trabalhadores na Agricultura do Estado de Goiás (FETAEG), e Carlos Mariguela, vinculado ao Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem-Terra (MST), ambos localizados no município de Itaberaí, no noroeste goiano. Objetiva-se analisar de que forma o grau de organização social, política, econômica e tecnológica das famílias assentadas contribui para a inserção delas, no mercado de comercialização do leite. Para atender aos objetivos da pesquisa, foi traçado o perfil socioeconômico das famílias assentadas, levando em consideração aspectos como: tamanho da família, composição da renda, nível de escolaridade e tempo de assentados. Foram considerados os aspectos de organização, produção e comercialização, a partir de algumas variáveis analíticas: a) trabalho individual ou coletivo; b) produção e comercialização do leite in natura e/ou derivados; c) canais de comercialização utilizados; d) se o vínculo com o MST e a FETAEG interfere no grau de inserção no mercado do leite. Para alcançar os objetivos propostos na pesquisa, foi realizada uma revisão bibliográfica e uma pesquisa documental para verificar o estado da comercialização do leite e dos assentamentos rurais. Conclui-se que a atividade leiteira é uma das estratégias de reprodução econômica e social nos assentamentos rurais, pois desempenha um importante papel na geração de emprego e renda. Conclui-se, também, que as formas de organização social, política, econômica e tecnológica presentes nos dois assentamentos, contribuem para a inserção dessas famílias na cadeia produtiva do leite no município de Itaberaí, mas que essa inclusão se dá de forma subordinada, tendo em vista que a atividade leiteira não tem autonomia e domínio sobre sua renda, pois a parcela maior do lucro fica em poder dos laticínios. É necessário beneficiar minimamente a produção para alcançar outros mercados por meio de uma cooperativa, possibilitando a apropriação maior da renda do leite por parte das famílias assentadas, ao invés de transferi-la para o capital por meio do laticínio.