The profitability of dairy farms is a broadly addressed issue in research, for different farming systems and even more so now, when it comes to the issue of sustainability in different agricultural fields. The present study presents an evaluation of the relations used for the determination of profitability of various categories of dairy farms, in terms of size, geographical area, and total milk production. In order to analyze the associated influence exerted on the level of profitability by the selected technical and economic indicators, regression functions were applied. The TableCurve program was used to determine the ideal equation that describes the data entered in a two- or three-dimensional representation. The research results showed that the size of farms and the level and value of milk production are directly correlated with profitability, and the unit cost is inversely correlated with it.

Climate changes affect all agricultural production systems, directly or indirectly, including that of ruminant meat, through the limitation of forage resources sensitive to reduced water regimes and drought. The present paper assessed the economic sustainability of ruminant meat production in the context of climate change, with a particular focus on integrating bioeconomy principles through the use of drought-resistant crops such as sorghum and millet in livestock feed. This study included scenarios for two farm-level models, a sheep fattening farm and a cattle fattening farm, to determine the economic benefit and impact of integrating resilient crops in the total feed ration. The findings showed that the dry scenario system could offer economic and environmental advantages over traditional water-intensive crops like maize. The results demonstrated that replacing maize with sorghum or millet could result in a reduction in feed costs and enhanced economic benefit over the traditional feed system.

Sheep farming is an important branch of the animal husbandry sector in Europe. In 2023, Romania’s sheep and goat herds ranked third in the European Union, with more than 10 million heads, contributing substantially to the production of meat, traditional cheeses, and wool. However, in the current climate context, with extreme weather events and especially long periods of drought, providing optimal fodder ratio becomes a challenge for farmers. As animal nutritionists provide valid alternatives, consistent with the nutritional requirements of the species, the present work aims to present some economically efficient fodder alternatives to use for milk production in sheep farms of different sizes. The study brings added value to research in the field of using fodder alternatives in animal nutrition through the economic aspects researched because profitability is pursued in any activity, thus completing the technical arguments of previous studies in the literature in the field. Several economic indicators were calculated, such as the total value by categories of expenses, the value of production, the level of profit, and the rate of gross and net return. The analysis demonstrated that regardless of their size, the sheep farms located in lowland areas can reach positive values of profitability indicators when using alternative fodder in animal feeding.

The circular economy represents one of the key pillars of European Union strategies aiming to decouple growth from resource utilization. The circular economy has emerged as a key flagship for European policies related to sustainable agri-food systems, potentially decreasing pressures on resources and the environment while ensuring economic competitiveness. In this context, this study proposed to measure the circularity performance of the Romanian agri-food system compared with average European Union performance, based on Eurostat data indicators for the years 2014 and 2022 and a normalized composite index composed of the economic, environmental, and social pillars. Indicator scores were categorized by higher-is-better or lower-is-better, constrained in the interval [0, 5] and then aggregated with equal weights. The composite index for Romania exhibited values ranging from 3.14 in 2014 to 3.45 in 2022, showing moderate progress. The results indicate a fragmentary transition where areas of strength for Romania were material resilience and trade. At the same time, areas of weakness were the economic integration of circularity practices. The study’s main limitations arise from the limited agri-food specificity of available indicators and the sensitivity of results to weighting choices. Overall, the findings highlight the need for stronger institutional mechanisms and targeted investments to accelerate Romania’s transition toward a circular agri-food economy.

The dairy sector has an important role in the world food system, with a variety of products consumed by people worldwide. This paper aims to analyze the recent situation of the milk and dairy products sector, from the perspective of milk sources and resources on the dairy products market. Recent data show that in the European Union, the total milk production exceeds 160.8 million tons, of which 96.5% is cow’s milk. Romania has a significant increase in demand for milk and dairy products, driven both by the evolution of the dairy market at European and national level, and by changes in consumer preferences, which are increasingly oriented towards a healthier diet. The research methods used in this paper are structural data analysis, comparative analysis, studying trends based on regression equations and graphical representation of data. The main research questions formulated in the paper refer to the recent breed structure of cattle, sheep, goats, and buffaloes, as sources of milk production, the types of milk-supplying farms, productions of milk and milk products, milk imports and exports. The research showed that households, along with commercial farms, constitute an important source of marketable milk, and that the dairy sector’s resources come from a combination of commercial and non-professional farms. Also, the internal supply is completed by an important offer from imports. Regarding milk prices at the farm gate, it has always been a subject of dissatisfaction for farmers, who have not always covered their production costs. The present paper realizes an overview and provides important data on the recent situation on the milk sector sources and resources, that are currently facing several challenges.

All agricultural sectors are under the influence of environmental factors, which act alongside the flow of activities. In the context of efforts to adapt to the effects of climate change, the purpose of this work is to evaluate the level of endowment of cattle farms with equipment and facilities involved in ensuring an adequate microclimate, in the efficient management and administration of feed and water for animals. This research is based on the processing of data from 83 cattle farms in Romania, of different sizes and located in different landforms, collected through a quantitative survey, through a questionnaire. This paper indicates that the existing level of these types of facilities is insufficient and highlights the importance of investments in equipment necessary to adapt to the effects of climate change, especially for smaller farms, but also for large farms. These types of investment refer to technologies for air cooling, microclimate control, feed management, and automation. This paper highlights the need to increase the technological level in Romanian cattle farms, to adapt to climate change challenges. The promotion of appropriate technologies must be included in an integrated strategy for the equipping and modernization of cattle farms, for an effective diminution of climate risks. This means adopting a systemic approach that includes investments in infrastructure, innovation, and support for farmers.