Developing Feeding Management Assessment Protocol at Small Scale Dairy Herds in Egypt
Developing Feeding Management Assessment Protocol at Small Scale Dairy Herds in Egypt
Sherif Abdelghany1, Hossam Mahrous Ebeid2*, Ahmed Abdelkader Aboamer2, Mohamed Ali Radwan1, Rania Agamy1
ABSTRACT
Assessment of feeding practices possibly sheds light on feeding problems that are faced by smallholder dairy farmers. The main objective of the study was to develop an assessment protocol to evaluate feeding practices at small dairy farms. The study was based on 56 smallholder farms that raised crossbred cows and local buffaloes in mid-lactation, with an average of 4.4 parties and an average herd size of 1.28 and 1.19 head/farm for Nile Valley and Newly Reclaimed districts, respectively. A structured questionnaire survey was designed, and field interviews were conducted to collect data and to characterize the current situation. Representative feed staff and milk samples were collected and analyzed. Feeding practices efficiency indicators were calculated to be compared with standards. Results revealed that most farmers in the studied two districts used the concentrate to feed animals, which was formulated at home and mixed with roughage at feeding times. The Newly reclaimed district used mixed roughages (P < 0.001) compared with Nile Valley district that provided mainly wheat straw. Green forage patterns differed (P = 0.001) in the two districts, where water grass (Echinochloa crus-galli) was the major fodder in both districts, followed by corn fodder and clover. The feed intake of concentrate and green fodder for fed buffaloes and cows was higher (P < 0.05) in Nile Valley district. A significant difference (P < 0.05) observed in daily milk and fat-corrected milk (FCM) yields between both districts. Cattle in all areas under this study showed a lower Fat : protein ratio than the optimal ratio. Milk urea nitrogen (MUN) was significantly different (P < 0.05) between the two districts, was (P < 0.05) higher than standard level in both districts. The MUN levels in cattle and buffalo milk were higher in the Nile Valley district than the Newly Reclaimed (23.66 and 22.76 mg/dl, respectively). The cost of producing one kg of milk was higher (P < 0.05) on the Newly Reclaimed district. Collected data through survey and lab analysis for milk (Fat: protein ratio and MUN) and feeds samples could help to set new and practical standards that fit small-scale farms at the districts level as well as adapt commercialized diagnostic tools for feeding practices in rural areas.
Keywords | Rural Regions, Dairy Farms, Feeding Practices, Milk Analysis, Milk urea nitrogen, Smallholders
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