The objective of this study was to estimate some economic indicators of dairy farms with high daily production volume, under a total confinement system. We also intended to identify the components that most affected the effective operational cost. The data of three milk production systems with pure Holstein cows were used. The total and operational cost methodology was used for the profitability analysis. All three production systems present negative gross and net margin, therefore, they are undergoing undercapitalization and accumulating debt, because the revenues earned are not enough to pay, at least, the effective operating expenses. The component items of the effective operational cost that had higher impact in relation to the effective operational cost were, in decreasing order, feeding, rearing and fattening, labor, miscellaneous expenditure, sanitation, energy, milking, reproduction, machine rental, BST and taxes.
dairy cattle; production cost; profitability; net margin