Abstract
Objective:To explore feeding strategies and identify eventual errors that could cause poor production and reproduction performances in dairy farms in the north of Algeria.Materials and Methods:A survey was conducted among 211 farms of different sizes, from 2014 to 2018 to compose a database that is analyzed statistically.Results:The results relative to the nutritive value of the rations showed an average dry matter intake of 15.9 ± 4.74 kg/cow/day, providing 13.2 ± 4.34 UFL (Feed Unit for Lactation) of net energy and 1306 ± 456 gm of protein digested in small intestine (PDI)/cow/day. A high proportion of concentrate intake is observed, with an average of 64.7% ± 17.4% of energy intake and 70.2% ± 16.2% of nitrogen intake. Dairy cows performances were characterized by a low milk production regarding their genetic potential (14.2 ± 4.73 kg of milk/cow/day), a calving interval > to one year (397 ± 20.4 days), though the coverage rates of their nutrient requirements reached 120%. The typology of the dietary rations allowed grouping them into three categories: deficient rations cluster (DR), correct rations cluster, and excessive rations cluster (ER). DR and ER, which are not adjusted to animals’ needs, were found in 57.8% of farms.Conclusion:It is obvious that the feeding management in the dairy farms in the North of Algeria is not based upon scientific achievements, contributing to relatively low performances of cows as well as to important financial losses. This finding imposes the necessity to adopt a correct and accurate rationing of animals.
Highlights
Algeria is considered as one of the largest consumers of milk, and its products with an annual average estimated to 150 l per capita recorded in 2015 [1], while international standards set by the World Health Organization evaluated at 90 l/capita/year
The aim of this study is to describe and evaluate the feeding management of dairy cows in Algerian farms and, thereby, identify possible errors of rationing that contribute to the fall in milk production of cows in order to correct them in the future
In 3.3% of the farms, the rations were only composed of fodder, in 13.3%, the concentrate provided less than 30% of dry matter, whereas it has brought more than 50% in 39.8% of the farms
Summary
Algeria is considered as one of the largest consumers of milk, and its products with an annual average estimated to 150 l per capita recorded in 2015 [1], while international standards set by the World Health Organization evaluated at 90 l/capita/year. The milk production recorded a positive increase between 2009 and 2015 following the measures taken by the government in the context of several plans to develop and to improve the sector, it remains low considering the genetic potential of modern dairy cattle, which can grow on average between 5000 and 6000 kg per lactation in their country of origin [4]. The low productivity of dairy cattle is the result of several ecological, technical, and socio-economic obstacles, which limit the farms profitability [5], and bother the good expression of the genetic potential of the cows, which. J Adv Vet Anim Res 2019; 6(4):567574
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