Situation of Forage Crops Intended for Feeding Dairy Cattle in Some Breeding Farms in the Wilaya of Blida (Algeria)

Abstract

Background: Forage crops in Algeria are deficient and thus constitute the primary obstacle hindering milk production. The present study aims to assess fodder practices in the wilaya of Blida, through the farms surveyed. Methods: A chronological and spatio-temporal analysis of the evolution of areas, fodder and dairy production, a survey of 76 dairy farmers and a descriptive analysis by quantiles of key variables using statistical tools (Excel and SPSS) was performed at the level of the of Blida province. A database is established using information collected from the various agricultural services of the wilaya of Blida and the examination of questionnaires from surveys carried out in the dairy farms visited. Result: The proportions by quantiles allowed discerning that two thirds of the farmers visited allocate areas of 0 to 20 hectares to fodder. With regard to a utilized agricultural area between 0 and 140 hectares, of which up to 110 hectares are allocated to cereals and the rest of the land allocated to other crops such as fruit trees. The farmers surveyed rely more on cereal crop residues to feed dairy cattle and practice little or no forage crops, which explains the delay in the development of dairy production.