Sadek
Milk recording under different
production systems in Egypt
R.R. Sadek
Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University,
Gamaa St. Giza, Egypt
The paper shortly presents data of the cattle and buffalo population in
Egypt, where the dairy sector contributes for about 1/3 of the national Summary
agricultural production; no milk records are kept for small farm or
medium herds. The head number together with distribution and herd
sizes are outlined. Production data for milk in cattle and buffalo are also
reported
A programme for animal recording data started in 1989 in order to
establish a cattle information system (CISE) is then described; the results
reported that include herd summary, information on individual animals
and priority lists. Such reports are published on a monthly basis.
Milk production in Egypt is based either on the traditional crop/livestock
system or on the (intensive) industrial production system Within CISE
activities, personnel have been trained and statistical facilities have been
developed. The recording scheme is based on visits on a monthly base
(ICAR A4-method) and data are recorded on a single input-sheet for
every animal. Data are then analysed with the Canadian Record of
Performanc (ROP) and DHIS, IDEAS and LIMS from ILCA.
Constrains can be distinguished in structural, cultural and educational,
technical and financial origin. Recommendations to overcome such limits
are briefly described.
In Egypt the dairy sector contributes about 30% of the total value of
agricultural production. The population of dairy animals is about Introduction
6.7 million heads of cattle and buffaloes. The total milk production is
about 3.6 million tons (Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation,
MALR, 2000).
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Table 1. Cattle and buffalo population (in million).
Number
(million) %
Cattle
Native 2.373 35.0
Foreign purebred 0.133 2.0
Crossbred 0.912 13.5
Total cattle 3.418 50.5
Buffaloes 3.330 49.5
Total 6.748 100.0
Source: Animal Production Sector, MALR, 2000.
Dairy population size
(6.7 millions)
Small herds Large herds
96.25% 3.75%
(Less than 50 heads) (50 heads and more)
crop/livestock system intensive production system
Cattle Buffaloes Cattle Buffaloes
48% 48.25% 2.75% 1%
Native = 35% Native = 0.45%
Crosses = 12.5% Crosses = 0.8%
Foreign = 0.5% Foreign = 1.5%
Figure. 1. Distribution of cattle and buffalo populations over the two major
production systems.
The two major milk production systems in Egypt are the traditional
crop/livestock which holds about 96% of the cattle and buffalo
population and the “industrial” intensive production system which
contains large commercial farms of more than 50 heads each, mainly of
high yielding foreign breeds of cattle. Another system includes
medium-size buffalo flying herds at the outskirts of large cities for milk
production.
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Table 2. Distribution of cattle and buffaloes by herd size.
Herd size (head) No. of buffaloes No. of cattle Total
Less than 10 heads 2 899 809 2 830 881 5 730 690
(43%) (42%) (85%)
(No. of holders = 1 687 986)
10 – 24 heads 279 339 319 749 0 599 088
(4.1%) (4.7%) (8.8%)
No. of holders = 45 021
25 – 49 heads 84486 81275 165761
(1.25%) (1.20%) (2.45%)
No. of holders = 7 194
50 heads and more 66 066 185 672 251 738
(1%) (2.75%) (3.75%)
No. of holders = 1166
Total 3 329 700 3 417 577 6 747 277
(49.35) (50.65%) (100.0%)
Source: Animal Production Sector, MALR, 2000.
No milk records are kept in small farms or medium and flying herds.
Most experimental farms keep records for management and research
purposes. Large commercial farms apply computerized dairy management
programs for controlling farm activities and decision making.
The objective of this presentation is to discuss the on-going milk recording
activities under different milk production systems in Egypt, with a especial
attention to the constraints facing the establishment of a national milk
recording system.
Table 3. Milk production from cattle and buffaloes.
Milk production %
(Million tons) of the total production
Cattle
Native 0.544 15.0
Foreign purbreds 0.274 7.5
Crossbreds 0.778 21.5
Total cattle production 1.596 44.0
Buffaloes production 2.018 56.0
Total production 3.614 100.0
Source: Animal Production Sector, MALR, 2000.
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Total Milk Production, 2000
3.6 Million tons
Small herds Large herds
70% 30%
(Less than 50 heads) (50 heads and more)
Crop/livestock system Intensive production system
Cattle Buffaloes Cattle Buffaloes
15% 55% 29% 1%
Figure 2. Milk production by the two major systems.
From the published data of MALR 2000, cattle and buffalo populations
Background for all Egypt are summarized in Table 1. The distribution of cattle and
information buffaloes over the two major dairy production systems is shown in figure 1.
Table 2 explains the distribution of cattle and buffaloes by herd size.
The population of dairy animals is divided almost equally between cattle
and buffaloes. The importance of the small proportion of foreign breeds
comes from their significant contribution to the regular milk market and
dairy processing plants.
Concerning age structure, the mature females of cattle and buffalo (> 2 yrs.)
represent 45% and 50% of the total cattle and buffalo populations,
respectively. The higher percentage of mature female buffaloes confirms
the recognition of the buffalo by the farmer as the major dairy animal in
Egypt.
According to the 2000 MALR published statistics, the total milk
production from cattle and buffaloes is about 3.6 million tons (Table 3).
About 55% of the total milk output comes from buffaloes. Buffalo milk is
preferred by Egyptian consumers because of its white color, high fat
content (about 7%) and flavor. The contribution of foreign breeds and
crosses to the domestic milk production is about 30% which is produced
mainly by commercial farms. Figure 2 shows the contribution of buffaloes
and cattle to total milk production.
In 1989, the Animal Production Department, Faculty of Agriculture,
Cairo University started a pilot project financed by the International
Development Research Center (IDRC), Canada to establish a “Cattle
Animal Recording Systems for
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Information System in Egypt (CISE)”. Village Extension workers (VEW’s)
from the MALR were trained as field recorders, and the university staff
and postgraduate students as supervisors. Data were collected based on
once-a-month visit, and monthly reports were issued by CISE and sent
regularly to each enrolled farm. To encourage farmers to join the
programme, a package of technical services, on cost recovery basis, were
offered to farmers by CISE (concentrates, veterinary services, pregnancy
diagnosis, treatment of infertility cases … etc.).
In 1996, the project was transferred into a special self financed non-profit
community service center. The center has well trained personell and owns
well equipped network for data collection, analysis and evaluation. CISE
produces monthly reports for farmers which include:
1) herd summary;
2) information on individual animals; and
3) an attention list to help in farm management.
A Technical Cooperation Program (TCP) between MALR and FAO was
designed in 1996 to expand CISE program to a National Dairy Herd
Improvement System in Egypt (DHIS). The document of the National DHIS
nominated CISE as the National Central Data Processing Laboratory in
Egypt.
CISE succeeded in gathering the facilities of relevant institutions to
implement a national milk recording program in nine governorates. CISE
is currently a member of ICAR and follows its guidelines in milk
recording.
There are two major milk production systems in Egypt: Dairy
1) The first system is the traditional crop/livestock system which is
production
traditionally integrated with the dominating agricultural system. It
contains about 96% of the cattle and buffalo population and produces
systems
about 70% of the total domestic milk output. This system is characterized
by:
- Small holdings and herds (1-5 heads/farm) of low producing native
animals.
- Labor intensive operations using simple techniques and practices.
- No recording for milk or for any other activities.
- Low values of inputs and outputs.
- Surplus milk is sold at farm gate to middlemen at low price, and
live animals are sold alive in village markets.
- Most services have been provided to the farmer by the MALR free
of charge, but recently a cost recovery basis has been applied to
some services.
- The farmers families are the primary consumers of the milk, and,
therefore, the contribution of this system to the regular milk market
does not match its large population size.
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2) The second system is the (intensive) industrial production system
which contains large commercial farms of more than 50 heads each,
mainly of high-yielding foreign breeds of cattle. Commercial farms
contain about 4% of the total cattle and buffalo population but produce
about 30% of the marketable milk. Milk recording in most of these
farms are conducted through computerized dairy management
programs used mainly for controlling and operating farm activities
and supporting decision making. Large scale farms belong either to
specialized companies, cooperatives or privately owned. Some large
companies have their dairy processing plants and feed mills. Most
large dairy farmers are members of the General Cooperative for the
Development of Animal Wealth located in Cairo, or/and other
associations such as those of the Egyptian Buffalo Producers’
Association (EBPA) or Egyptian Milk Producers’ Association (EMPA).
3) A minor type of farms is operated under a strictly commercial milk
production system contains relatively smaller buffalo farms located at
the outskirts of large cities. In this system, buffaloes are put under
very intensive feeding regiemes to produce high-fat milk which is
delivered directly to consumers. Buffaloes are bought in milk and are
sold for slaughter immediately after drying off. Through this system,
much of the best animals are lost. Recently, attention has been focused
on identifying and selecting high yielding buffaloes to purchase them
and formulate nucleus herd(s) for the purpose of genetic improvement
of milk in buffalo herds.
4) There is no specialized beef breeds in Egypt, meat is produced either
by native cattle or buffaloes, or by imported feeders and ready to
slaughter steers.
In the traditional system, native calves are sold alive either when cash is
needed or when they are culled. Buffalo calves are sold for slaughter at a
very young age to save their dams’ milk for family consumption. Farmers
and feedloot operators were encouraged by soft loans provided through
the National Veal Project, to keep buffalo males for a longer period to
attain higher body weights.
Variable activities are undertaken for milk recording in Egypt. Almost all
Current experimental farms have milk records to control its operations and help
situation of decision making. Some of these farms own computerized farm
milk recording management programs. The large commercial dairy farms operates varied
types of farm management programs. Animal Production Research
Organizations Institute (APRI), MALR provides service package (complete milk analysis,
somatic cell counting and feed treatments to enrich roughage nutritional
value) to the dairy farms. In the meantime, APRI measures daily milk
production during a once-a-month visit to the enrolled farms.
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In general, the outputs of the abovementioned recording activities are
not uniform enough to be exploited in effective breeding program. CISE
is currently operating a national milk recording program in nine
governorates. CISE was established in 1989 as a pilot project financed by
the IDRC of Canada to act as the cattle information system of Egypt. It
was transferred in 1996 into a self financed non profit community service
center. CISE is the member of ICAR and follows its recording guidelines
both in cattle and buffaloes.
Scattering facilities needed to establish a national milk recording exist in
Egypt. For example, APRI has an effective service package as mentioned Facilities
above. Animal Production Sector has a network of VEW’s spread almost
at all villages in the country. There are major associations for animal
breeders. The General Cooperative for Development of Animal Wealth
(GCDAW), the Egyptian Buffalo Producers Association (EBPA) and the
Egyptian Milk Producers Association (EMPA). Most of the dairy farmers
are members in one of these associations.
CISE has well trained specialists and well equipped statistical laboratory
(hard –and software) capable to analysis up to 100 thousand records of
enrolled animals. Also, the center has equipment for fat test, mastitis
detection and early pregnancy diagnosis.
Despite the presence of all elements needed for milk recording, the links
and coordination among relevant institutions is not strong enough. CISE
is working on institutionalizing the relationships among organizations
interested in animal recording.
The CISE milk recording scheme depends on once-a-month visit (official
24-hour milk recording system, ICAR A4-method). An official recorder Methodology
collects the data on farm at a specific day “centering date” identified by
CISE. Due to the lack of a national identification program, animals on
small or medium scale farms are identified by plastic eartags provided by
CISE. Animals on the large scale farms are identified by the owner
identification marks (plastic or metal eartags, ear tattooing and sometimes
by liquid nitrogen branding). The data processing system is working with
the Input-Sheet number as the animal identification key.
The VEW’s visit farms and measures milk yield during the normal milking
times on the testing date. Simple balances are used on the small farms Data collection
but electronic milk meters or milk jars are available on large farms. Data
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are recorded on a single Input-Sheet specific for every animal. The
following information is recorded: milk yield, animal status, insemination
information, pregnancy diagnosis and calving information. The input-
sheets are transported by the recorders to the data processing lab (CISE).
Based on the Canadian Record of Performance (ROP) and DHIS
Data entry and programmes, IDEAS and LIMS from ILCA, and German experience in
analysis
milk recording. CISE has developed its own software in Arabic for data
entry and analysis for both cattle and buffaloes. The CISE software takes
care of the specific conditions of the small herds and the characteristics of
local breeds, especially buffaloes. An Arabic monthly technical report is
issued directly to farmers which contains three parts: herd summary,
individual information and attention list. The herd summary contain:
averages of daily milk yield for both recorded and lactating animals. The
individual cow information contains: reproductive information, total milk
yield, days in milk and expected 305 day milk yield. The attention list
shows the cows which are still non-pregnant, animals due for service, due
for palpation, and due for drying off…etc.
Recently, the technical report includes the results of milk fat test,
pregnancy diagnosis and mastitis detection. For small farmers, small
village farms are treated as one herd. The report is supported by extension
work at the village level.
Two different service packages are offered –on cost recovery basis- to
Services both of small holders and commercial medium farms.
a) The following services are provided by CISE to the small farmers:
- Milk processing using separators and churns.
- Chopping crop residues for utilization as animal feedstuff.
- Machine milking by small portable machines.
- Provision of good quality concentrates.
- Veterinary services.
b) Recently, for medium-sized commercial farms, CISE provides fat test,
pregnancy diagnosis using sonography, and mastitis detection during
the monthly visit.
The constraints for establishing the national milk recording system in
Constraints Egypt can be summarized as follows:
a) Structural constraints:
- Scattering of animals (small herds of less than 10 heads represent
about 85% of population).
- Inefficiency of the existing Breed Associations.
- Absence of coordination among relevant institutions.
- Absence of a national identification and registration program.
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b) Cultural and educational constraints
- High illiteracy rates.
- Adverse traditions, and beliefs.
- Small farmers keep animals mainly for food and/ or financial
security.
c) Technical constraints
- Absence of breeding programs.
- Inefficiency of extension services.
d) Financial constraints
- Small farmers are not able and are not willing to pay fees for milk
recording.
- Few commercial farmers only pay the actual cost.
- Recording cost is high due to the limited enrolled herds.
Financial
mechanism
Optimizing Herd Size
Selected Bulls for A.I. +
Natural Insemination
Performance Farms, Co-ops,
Evaluation & Companies
Productivity Improve Feeding
Controls Systems &
Resources
Breeding Programmes Improve Milk Appropriate
Production Technologies
Increase Milk
Surplus
Credit Lines
Milk Collection Technical Support
Centers
Dairy Processing Units
Figure. 3. The role of milk recording in improving the efficiency of the dairy sector.
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Milk recording in Egypt
a) Resources development:
Recommendations - Optimizing herd size.
for the
development of - Setting breeding objectives and programs.
the dairy sector - Attaining international standards of production.
b) Organization:
- Expanding the activities of the animal dairy specialized farms & co-
operatives.
- Strengthening existing service schemes.
- Strengthening links and relations among institutions responsible
for milk recording.
c) Systems:
- Developing identification and registration program.
- Encouraging the concept of milk recording.
- Encouraging market-oriented milk production.
d) Finance:
- Establishing financial polices for sustainable milk recording.
- Establishing citeria for collateral and loan systems for large dairy
operations.
Figure 3 shows the role of milk recording in increasing the efficiency of
the dairy sector.
In order to overcome the constraints to improving milk recording in Egypt,
Recent research many recording schemes were developed to decrease cost, time and
in milk recording
under Egyptian efforts of recording. In this direction, once-a-month, bimonthly and
conditions trimonthly recording schemes have been studied, especially to fit the small
farmers’ conditions, who reject receiving foreigners (milk samplers and
data collectors), frequently at their homes.
Sadek et al. (1994) and Abou-Bakr (1996) and Abdel-Aziz (1996) concluded
that once-a-month milk recording system could be applied for estimating
total milk yield, genetic parameters and breeding values of Egyptian
buffaloes with a high accuracy (r2= 0.98) .
Hamed (1995) and Abou-Bakr (1996) tested the use of bimonthly and
trimonthly milk recording systems in estimating total milk yield in Holstein
and buffaloes. They found that the accuracy of estimation ranged between
0.79 and 0.95.
Abd El-Lattef (2002) studied the use of different milk recording schemes
(AM-milking, PM-milking, alternative AM/PM and alternative PM/Am)
under monthly, bimonthly and trimonthly recording systems in estimating
milk yield in buffaloes. The conclusion was that, the AM-milking,
alternative AM/PM and alternative PM/AM schemes under monthly,
bimonthly and trimonthly recording schemes could be utilized in
estimating total milk yield, heritabilities and breeding values for Egyptian
buffaloes with reasonable accuracies.
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Table 4. Enrolled animals.
Governorates No. of herds No. of animals No. of records
Giza 28 2 195 4 858
Ismailia 5 622 1 244
Gharbia 3 98 196
Beni-Suif 18 220 399
Fayoum 1 580 1 221
Behaira 9 (villages) 477 1 271
Sharkia 2 194 390
Kalyobia 2 254 466
Alexandria 1 930 1 808
Total 70 5 570 11 553
Table 5. Milk production characteristics.
Actual
Production No. of TMY LP DMY 305 d Fat CI
system records (kg) (day) (kg) (kg) (%) (day)
Cattle
Commercial:
Holstein (H) 3 037 8 280 360 23.0 7 650 NA 450
Friesian (F) 183 6 805 317 21.5 6 600 3.5 380
(H x F) 3 537 7 040 337 20.9 7 005 3.3 425
Experimental:
(H x F) 50 6 830 340 20.1 6 780 3.3 429
(F x B) 614 2 445 325 7.5 2 340 3.8 413
Traditional:
Baladi 210 1005 230 4.4 1 005 NA 395
Buffaloes
Commercial: 2 334 2 105 305 6.9 2 105 6.9 415
Experimental: 340 1 560 270 5.8 1 560 8.0 420
Flying herds: 842 2 750 370 7.4 2 390 NA 495
Traditional: 664 1865 330 5.7 1 815 NA 435
TMY= Total milk yield; LP= Lactation period; DMY= Daily milk yield;
CI= Calving interval, B= Baladi cattle and NA= not available.
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1) Enrolled animals. A total number of 5570 animals (cattle and buffaloes)
On-going distributed over 70 herds in nine governorates under different
activities of production systems are enrolled (Table 4).
CISE 2) Provision information on local and foreign dairy animals under different
production systems. Milk Production and calving interval (CI) for cattle
and buffaloes under different production systems are shown in Table 5.
3) Buffalo improvement program. Special attention has been given to
buffaloes, as the major dairy animal in Egypt. A milk recording
program was initiated since September 2000 by CISE for buffalo
herds under different production systems in eight governorates.
The objectives of this program were:
- Recording milk production of large number of buffalo farms.
- Identifying elite buffaloes.
- Establishing a nucleus herd.
- Building a database to benefit farmers in:
- purchasing and establishing new herds.
- providing pedigreed bulls and potential breeding heifers.
4) Establishing buffalo nucleus herd(s). Preliminary analysis of milk records
of 2065 buffaloes in 58 herds under different milk production systems
in eight governorates enabled the specialists at CISE to identify the
elite milking buffaloes. About 20% of the enrolled buffaloes produce
over 2000 Kg of milk in an average lactation period of 314 days, which
is significantly higher than the national buffalo average.
Nucleus herd(s) of selected buffaloes will be formulated, where
buffaloes are kept for further genetic evaluation. The nucleus herd(s)
are expected to produce good heifers for replacement at buffalo dairy
farms, and pedigreed young bulls for breeding purposes.
Abdel-Aziz, A.S., Sadek, R.R., Nigm, A.A. & Abou-Bakr, S. 1994.
References Estimation of breeding values of buffalo bulls from daily and monthly
test-date milk records. Buffalo J., 3: 201.
Abou-Bakr, S. 1996. The use of different milk recording schemes for sire
evaluation of dairy cattle and buffaloes under field conditions. Ph.D.
Thesis, Fac. Agric., Cairo Uni., Egypt.
Abd El-Lattef & Hoda M.A., 2002. Studies on milk recording systems in
buffaloes. Ph. D Thesis, Fac. Agric., Cairo Uni., Egypt.
Hamed, M.K. 1995. Accuracy of bimonthly and trimonthly milk recording
systems for dairy cattle in Egypt. Annals of Agric. Sci., Moshtohor,
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Sadek, R.R., Kawther, M. Mourad, Ibrahim, M.A.M., Abou-Bakr, S.
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