Effect of Calving Season on the Economic and Production Efficiency of Dairy Production Breeds
The objective of this study was to evaluate the
effects of calving season on the production and economic efficiency
of dairy farms in Egypt. Our study was performed at dairy
production farms in the Alexandria, Behera, and Kafr El-Sheikh
provinces of Egypt from summer 2010 to winter 2013. The
randomly selected dairy farms had herds consisting of Baladi,
Holstein-Friesian, or cross-bred (Baladi × Holstein-Friesian) cows.
The data were collected from production records and responses to a
structured questionnaire. The average total return differed
significantly (P < 0.05) between the different cattle breeds and
calving seasons. The average total return was highest for the
Holstein- Friesian cows that calved in the winter (29106.42
EGP/cow/year), and it was lowest for Baladi cows that calved in the
summer (12489.79 EGP/cow/year). Differences in total returns
between the cows that calved in the winter or summer or between
the foreign and native breeds, as well as variations in calf prices,
might have contributed to the differences in milk yield. The average
net profit per cow differed significantly (P < 0.05) between the cattle
breeds and calving seasons. The average net profit values for the
Baladi cows that calved in the winter or summer were 2413 and
2994.96 EGP/cow/year, respectively, and those for the Holstein-
Friesian cows were 10744.17 and 7860.56 EGP/cow/year,
respectively, whereas those for the cross-bred cows were 10174.86
and 7571.33 EGP/cow/year, respectively. The variations in net profit
might have resulted from variation in the availability or price of feed
materials, milk prices, or sales volumes. Our results show that the
breed and calving season of dairy cows significantly affected the
economic efficiency of dairy farms in Egypt. The cows that calved
in the winter produced more milk than those that calved in the
summer, which may have been the result of seasonal influences,
such as temperature, humidity, management practices, and the type
of feed or green fodder available.
[1] Ahmed, I.A.M. (2011): Economic analysis of productive and
reproductive efficiency in dairy cattle, Ph.D. of Vet. Medical Science,
Menofia University – Sadat branch, Egypt.
[2] Ajili, N.; Rekik, A.; Gara, B. and Bouraoui, R. (2007): Relationships
among milk production, reproductive traits, and herd life for Tunisian
Holstein-Friesian cows. African J. Agri. Res., 2 (2): 047-051.
[3] Anwar, M.; Afzal, M. and Mirza, M. A. (2007): Some factors affecting
milk yield and lactation length in Nili- Ravi Buffaloes. Pakistan. Vet.
J., 27(3): 113-117.
[4] Asseged, B. and Birhanu, M. (2004): Survival analysis of calves and
reproductive performance of cows in commercial dairy farms in and
around Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Trop. Anim. Health and Prod., 36: 663-
672.
[5] Bachman, K. C. (2002): Milk production of dairy cows treated with
estrogen at the onset of a short dry period. J. Dairy Sci. 85:797-803.
[6] Bajwa, I. R.; Khan, M. S.; Khan, M. A. and Gondal, K. Z. (2004):
Environmental factors affecting milk yield and lactation length in
Sahiwal cattle. Pakistan Vet. J., 24: 23–27.
[7] Cilek, S. (2010): Reproductive traits of Holstein cows at Polatli state
farm in Turkey. J Anim. Vet. Adv., 8: 1-5.
[8] Dahl, G. E. and Petitclerc, D. (2003): Management of photoperiod in
the dairy herd for improved production and health. J. Anim Sci.,
81(suppl_3): 11 - 17.
[9] Dale, E. B.; Stuart, N. M.; Wayne, D.; Philip, J. and Suzanne, J. (2007):
Sources of variation and prospects for improvement of productive
efficiency in the dairy cow: A Review. J. Anim Sci., 60:583-592.
[10] El-Tahaway, A. S. (2007): cattle diseases and their effects on economic
and productive efficiency of dairy farms. Ph.D. Faculty of Veterinary
Medicine, Alexandria University.
[11] Fatma, A. S. and Afaf, Z. O. (2009): Improving the animal protein level
in the Egyptian food under the current economic situations. J. Appl.
Sci. Res., 5(4): 415-419.
[12] French, P. D. and Nebel, R. L. (2003): The simulated economic cost of
extended calving intervals in dairy herds and comparison of
reproductive management programs. Journal of Dairy Science 86
(Suppl. 1):54 (abstract).
[13] Gifawosen, T.; Alemu; Azage, T.; Diediou, M. L. and Hegde, B. P.
(2003): Study on reproductive efficiency of Boran and its crosses at
Holetta research farm: Effect of genotype, management and
environment. Ethiopian J. of Anim. Prod., 3(1) 89-108.
[14] Javed, K. (2000): Genetic and phenotypic aspects of some performance
traits in a pure bred herd of Sahiwal cattle in Pakistan. Ph.D. Thesis,
Univ. Agric., Faisalabad.
[15] Khan, A. (1996): Seasonal variation in breeding patterns of buffalo in
Punjab. M. Sc. Thesis, Univ. of Agric. Faisalabad, (CVS Lahore).
[16] Lateef, M. (2007): Production performance of Holstein Friesian and
Jersey cattle in sub tropical environment of the Punjab, Pakistan, Ph. D.
thesis, University of agriculture, Faisalabada, Pakistan.
[17] Liza, S. M. (2012): Effect of Days open, dry period and calving interval
on economic and productive efficiency of dairy farms, M. V. Sc ,
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Banha University – Moshtohor branch,
Egypt.
[18] Omar, M. A. E. (2009): Economic study on the productive and
reproductive efficiency in dairy farms in relation to veterinary
management. Ph.D. of Vet. Medical Science, Zagazig University,
Egypt.
[19] Overton, T.R. (2005): Is There a Place for Short Dry Periods for High
Producing Herds?) Advances in Dairy Technology (2005) Volume 17,
page 25-34.
[20] Sutradhar, A.B.C; Hasanuzzaman, M.; Azad, M.A.K and Kumar, S.
(2008): Management Productive and Reproductive Performances of
Dairy Farm, Pakistan Journal of Nutrition 7 (3): 408-411, 2008.
[21] Yitaye, A. A.; Wurzinger, M.; Azage, T.; Zollitsch, W. (2010):
Handling, processing and marketing of milk in the North western
Ethiopian highlands. Livest. Res. Rur. Deve. 21 (7).
[1] Ahmed, I.A.M. (2011): Economic analysis of productive and
reproductive efficiency in dairy cattle, Ph.D. of Vet. Medical Science,
Menofia University – Sadat branch, Egypt.
[2] Ajili, N.; Rekik, A.; Gara, B. and Bouraoui, R. (2007): Relationships
among milk production, reproductive traits, and herd life for Tunisian
Holstein-Friesian cows. African J. Agri. Res., 2 (2): 047-051.
[3] Anwar, M.; Afzal, M. and Mirza, M. A. (2007): Some factors affecting
milk yield and lactation length in Nili- Ravi Buffaloes. Pakistan. Vet.
J., 27(3): 113-117.
[4] Asseged, B. and Birhanu, M. (2004): Survival analysis of calves and
reproductive performance of cows in commercial dairy farms in and
around Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Trop. Anim. Health and Prod., 36: 663-
672.
[5] Bachman, K. C. (2002): Milk production of dairy cows treated with
estrogen at the onset of a short dry period. J. Dairy Sci. 85:797-803.
[6] Bajwa, I. R.; Khan, M. S.; Khan, M. A. and Gondal, K. Z. (2004):
Environmental factors affecting milk yield and lactation length in
Sahiwal cattle. Pakistan Vet. J., 24: 23–27.
[7] Cilek, S. (2010): Reproductive traits of Holstein cows at Polatli state
farm in Turkey. J Anim. Vet. Adv., 8: 1-5.
[8] Dahl, G. E. and Petitclerc, D. (2003): Management of photoperiod in
the dairy herd for improved production and health. J. Anim Sci.,
81(suppl_3): 11 - 17.
[9] Dale, E. B.; Stuart, N. M.; Wayne, D.; Philip, J. and Suzanne, J. (2007):
Sources of variation and prospects for improvement of productive
efficiency in the dairy cow: A Review. J. Anim Sci., 60:583-592.
[10] El-Tahaway, A. S. (2007): cattle diseases and their effects on economic
and productive efficiency of dairy farms. Ph.D. Faculty of Veterinary
Medicine, Alexandria University.
[11] Fatma, A. S. and Afaf, Z. O. (2009): Improving the animal protein level
in the Egyptian food under the current economic situations. J. Appl.
Sci. Res., 5(4): 415-419.
[12] French, P. D. and Nebel, R. L. (2003): The simulated economic cost of
extended calving intervals in dairy herds and comparison of
reproductive management programs. Journal of Dairy Science 86
(Suppl. 1):54 (abstract).
[13] Gifawosen, T.; Alemu; Azage, T.; Diediou, M. L. and Hegde, B. P.
(2003): Study on reproductive efficiency of Boran and its crosses at
Holetta research farm: Effect of genotype, management and
environment. Ethiopian J. of Anim. Prod., 3(1) 89-108.
[14] Javed, K. (2000): Genetic and phenotypic aspects of some performance
traits in a pure bred herd of Sahiwal cattle in Pakistan. Ph.D. Thesis,
Univ. Agric., Faisalabad.
[15] Khan, A. (1996): Seasonal variation in breeding patterns of buffalo in
Punjab. M. Sc. Thesis, Univ. of Agric. Faisalabad, (CVS Lahore).
[16] Lateef, M. (2007): Production performance of Holstein Friesian and
Jersey cattle in sub tropical environment of the Punjab, Pakistan, Ph. D.
thesis, University of agriculture, Faisalabada, Pakistan.
[17] Liza, S. M. (2012): Effect of Days open, dry period and calving interval
on economic and productive efficiency of dairy farms, M. V. Sc ,
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Banha University – Moshtohor branch,
Egypt.
[18] Omar, M. A. E. (2009): Economic study on the productive and
reproductive efficiency in dairy farms in relation to veterinary
management. Ph.D. of Vet. Medical Science, Zagazig University,
Egypt.
[19] Overton, T.R. (2005): Is There a Place for Short Dry Periods for High
Producing Herds?) Advances in Dairy Technology (2005) Volume 17,
page 25-34.
[20] Sutradhar, A.B.C; Hasanuzzaman, M.; Azad, M.A.K and Kumar, S.
(2008): Management Productive and Reproductive Performances of
Dairy Farm, Pakistan Journal of Nutrition 7 (3): 408-411, 2008.
[21] Yitaye, A. A.; Wurzinger, M.; Azage, T.; Zollitsch, W. (2010):
Handling, processing and marketing of milk in the North western
Ethiopian highlands. Livest. Res. Rur. Deve. 21 (7).
@article{"International Journal of Biological, Life and Agricultural Sciences:70790", author = "Eman. K. Ramadan and Abdelgawad. S. El-Tahawy", title = "Effect of Calving Season on the Economic and Production Efficiency of Dairy Production Breeds", abstract = "The objective of this study was to evaluate the
effects of calving season on the production and economic efficiency
of dairy farms in Egypt. Our study was performed at dairy
production farms in the Alexandria, Behera, and Kafr El-Sheikh
provinces of Egypt from summer 2010 to winter 2013. The
randomly selected dairy farms had herds consisting of Baladi,
Holstein-Friesian, or cross-bred (Baladi × Holstein-Friesian) cows.
The data were collected from production records and responses to a
structured questionnaire. The average total return differed
significantly (P < 0.05) between the different cattle breeds and
calving seasons. The average total return was highest for the
Holstein- Friesian cows that calved in the winter (29106.42
EGP/cow/year), and it was lowest for Baladi cows that calved in the
summer (12489.79 EGP/cow/year). Differences in total returns
between the cows that calved in the winter or summer or between
the foreign and native breeds, as well as variations in calf prices,
might have contributed to the differences in milk yield. The average
net profit per cow differed significantly (P < 0.05) between the cattle
breeds and calving seasons. The average net profit values for the
Baladi cows that calved in the winter or summer were 2413 and
2994.96 EGP/cow/year, respectively, and those for the Holstein-
Friesian cows were 10744.17 and 7860.56 EGP/cow/year,
respectively, whereas those for the cross-bred cows were 10174.86
and 7571.33 EGP/cow/year, respectively. The variations in net profit
might have resulted from variation in the availability or price of feed
materials, milk prices, or sales volumes. Our results show that the
breed and calving season of dairy cows significantly affected the
economic efficiency of dairy farms in Egypt. The cows that calved
in the winter produced more milk than those that calved in the
summer, which may have been the result of seasonal influences,
such as temperature, humidity, management practices, and the type
of feed or green fodder available.", volume = "8", number = "7", pages = "798-5", }