Production Efficiency of Raw Milk and Its Determinants: Application of Combining Data Envelopment Analysis and Stochastic Frontier Analysis
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Animal husbandry development has always been an important part of agriculture. Based on China's macro statistics, the author systematically analyzed the spatial distribution characteristics and driving mechanism of raw Milk Production Efficiency in China. The topic selection has some significance, but there are still some deficiencies in the construction of theoretical analysis framework. Here are some suggestions for your reference:
(1) The introduction needs a modest rewrite. Why should we pay attention to the differences in the spatial distribution characteristics of raw Milk Production Efficiency in China and why they are important needs to be further discussed. At the same time, it seems unclear what the key scientific question this study is addressing.
(2) The biggest shortcoming of this study is the lack of dialogue with classical theories and literature. The outstanding manifestation is that this study does not have a rigorous and in-depth theoretical analysis framework, and the selection of indicators lacks sufficient theoretical basis.
(3) Table 1 What is the basis for time segmentation? Why is data missing for some years?
(4) The discussion needs to be further strengthened. This study lacks in-depth comparative analysis with similar studies, and also lacks further enlightenment for future research.
Author Response
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Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
About the paper with the title "Spatial-temporal Differences, Driving Factors, and Robustness of raw Milk Production Efficiency in China" I have the following comments:
I suggest a title more appropriate. What the authors intend to transmit for the readers with the title "Spatial-temporal Differences, Driving Factors, and Robustness of raw Milk Production Efficiency in China"?
The lack of objectivity is also present in the abstract. Please rewrite the abstract with main motivations, objectives, gaps in the literature, methodologies, novelties and main insights. Please be clear and objective. Do not forget that the abstract is the first contact of the readers with the paper.
The literature review should be extended and updated. Some citations (ex: Coelli) do not appear in the references. Please revise the paper about this and make sure that all citations appear in the references. Put citations in the text and do not put them in the references may bring for the authors serious problems.
In section 2 is not clear why the authors considered DEA-Malmquist and after SFA. The input-output indicators selection needs scientific support.
In section 3 appears several times the expression "spatial". However, the spatial analysis has proper approaches some of them related with the spatial autocorrelation that could be considered in this research. I suggest, or include spatial autocorrelation analysis, or change the expression "spatial" to avoid confusing the readers.
In section 4 I have some doubts about the robustness of the coefficients obtained with the regressions, because there is an absence of concern with autocorrelation (temporal and spatial), heteroscedasticity, endogeneity, multicollinearity, ....
I was unable to understand section 5 and find scientific documents that support the options presented in this section.
Conclusions section needs to have policy recommendations, practical implications and future research.
Without a clear and objective revision of the paper with these comments, my suggestions in the next round will be to reject.
Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
The article addresses the important and topical issues of the determinants of efficiency of milk production in China from 2004 to 2020. Methodologically, the article is prepared correctly. Properly selected indicators and applied methodology allow to draw conclusions. The main comments are:
1. The title of the article is incorrectly formulated. I believe that it would sound better as: Determinants of milk production efficiency in China from 2004 to 2020.
2. In the introduction of the article, it is worth mentioning that the European Union is a group of countries that produce a lot of milk (right after India) and a significant part of it is exported to other countries, including China. Of the European countries, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Poland and Italy have significant milk surpluses relative to domestic consumption.
3 One of the main factors determining the economic efficiency of milk production is the scale of production. Small farms are organized differently and their number, especially in Europe and the US, is gradually decreasing. The cost of producing milk on small farms is much higher than on large farms. I think it would be useful to show in the introduction the structure of dairy farms in China in terms of scale of production. What changes have taken place between 2004 and 2020 in the number of dairy farms in China? What is the number of small, medium and large dairy farms?
4 A very important factor determining the efficiency of milk production is the cost of roughage. In New Zealand, milk production costs are the lowest in the world due to the availability of cheap roughage. What is the situation in China? How many farms have the capacity to produce roughage on their own farm, and how many have to buy because they have too little land? How does this affect the potential for increased milk production in China? What is the economic efficiency of farms diversified by land resources?
Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
The authors have addressed well with my commments and it is suggested to be accepted.
Author Response
Thanks very much for all your comments and suggestions ！
Reviewer 2 Report
I suggest the authors better address the "The input-output indicators selection needs scientific support." and the potential statistical problems in the regressions with proper tests available in the literature. The explanations presented for these statistical problems without tests are vague.
Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
