SOME SALIENT FEATURES OF DAIRY FARMING UNDER THE CROPILIVESTOCK PRODUCTION SYSTEM IN THE NILE DELTA REGION IN EGYPT

Nigm, A. A.; Mohamed, Y. M.; Swiefy, S. A.; Ahmed, A. M.; Tabana, A. S.; Sadek, R. R.

doi:10.21608/jappmu.2006.235485

SOME SALIENT FEATURES OF DAIRY FARMING UNDER THE CROPILIVESTOCK PRODUCTION SYSTEM IN THE NILE DELTA REGION IN EGYPT

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Animal Production Department, Fac. of Agriculture. Cairo University.

² Animal Production Research Institute. Dokki. Giza, Egypt

³ Desert Research Center. Matariya. Cairo. Egypt

⁴ Department of Animal Production. Faculty of Agriculture. South Valley University. Qena, Egypt

10.21608/jappmu.2006.235485

Abstract

The present study was carried out to identify some salient features of the dairy
farming activity under the cropflivestock production system. A random sample of dairy
farms was selected in four govemorates (Dakahlia. Kafr EI-Sheikh. Menofia and
Dammiatta). Farms were monthly monitored during the agriculture years 1998 - 2000.
A questionnaire was designed to collect data related to crop and livestock production
activities. The collected data included farm size, cropping pattern. herd size. herd
composition. herd structure. management practices and gross output. Data were

analyzed using linear model procedure of SAS (1999).
In winter, green forage area was 46.7% of the total farm size. mainly cultivated
with Berseem (Triofoiium axiexndrium). while in summer. it was 44.9% and cultivated
with forage maize (Darawa). In winter. cash crops occupied 53.3% of the total farm
size. while it was 55.1% in summer. Herd size averaged 5.4 A.U. Dairy animals
constituted 33%. growing 57% and fattening animals 10% of the total herd size.
Average milk production was 1735, 1150 and 622 kg in a lactation period of 329. 302
and 267 day for crossbreds. buffalo and then Baladi cows. respectively. Calving
interval was 402. 425 and 421 day for the three genotypes. respectively. The average
feeding costs represented T8.5% of the total cost. Milk production represented 54% of
the total farm revenues. The average gross margin was 1568 LEffarrn. while it was
285 L.E per animal unit.

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