THE ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF THE USE OF NONTRADITIONAL FEED IN THE DIET OF DAIRY ANIMALS IN FAYOUM GOVERNORATE

Abstract

This research aims to study the economic impact of using traditional diets and non-traditional diets containing rice straw treated with ammonia and maize silage to feed dairy cattle, on dairy production. The study results showed that: - The total additional economic returns achieved as a result of the use of rice straw treated with ammonia amounted to 2602.9, and 2020.4 pounds, and as a result of the use of maize silage amounted to 3501.7, 2009.0 pounds during the season for the buffaloes and cows, respectively. - the ratio of total return value to total feeding costs after using rice straw treated with ammonia is greater compared to that used traditional feed, where amounted to about 2.29, 2.32 with an increase of about 0.84, 1.02 pounds per head of buffalo and cattle respectively, and it amounted to about 2.60, 2.24 after the use of maize silage, with an increase of about 1.15, 0.94 pounds per head of buffalo and cattle respectively. - The estimated production function for buffalo indicate that the production elasticity is about 1.41, which means the existence of increasing return to scale. The production function is statistically significant at 1%, with R2 equal to 0.86. - The optimum production that minimize the cost and maximize the profit per head of buffalo during the season is estimated to be about 2.746, 3.627 tons in the case of using traditional diet, while in the case of using rice straw treated with ammonia it is about 2.765, 3.955 tons, and in the case of using maize silage is about 1.843, 3.609 tons. - The optimum production that minimize the cost and maximize the profit per head of cow during the season is also estimated to be about 1.477, 1.977 tons in the case of using traditional diet, while in the case of using rice straw treated with ammonia is about 1.077, 1.893 tons, and in the case of using maize silage is about 1.230, 2.016 tons. - The total estimated economic impact in the case of using rice straw treated with ammonia diet, is expected to increase milk production in the country by 465.07, 233.51 thousand tons for buffalo, cows, respectively. In the case of of using maize silage diet, the expected increase in milk production is around 682.71, 293.09 thousand tons for buffalo, cows, respectively. At the level of Fayoum governorate, the increase is about 26.02, 11.22 thousand tons for buffalo, cows, respectively, in the case of using diet containing rice straw treated with ammonia, while in the case of using diet containing maize silage, the expected increase is around 38.2, 14.09 thousand tons for buffalo, cows, respectively. In light of the previous findings, the study recommends the following: - There is a need for efforts from the extension and research institutions and media channels to encourage adoption of the use of non-traditional feed at the national level. - Raising awareness of farmers and breeders about the importance of non-traditional feeds in reducing feeding costs and increasing economic returns, in addition to increasing the national output of milk. - There is a need to expand the use of rice straw treated with ammonia and maize silage, which leads to the reduction of area allocated for clover and increase area for wheat production, thereby reducing its imports. - The study recommends expanding non-traditional feed mills in countryside of Egy