Research Article

Survey of Herd Management on Conventional Dairy Farms in North Algeria

Volume: 37 Number: 1 April 23, 2023
  • Zakaria Meskini
  • Abdelkader El-amine Dahou
  • Djamaia Sabiha Radja
  • Houari Yerou
  • Abdelkader Homrani
EN

Survey of Herd Management on Conventional Dairy Farms in North Algeria

Abstract

A survey was conducted to evaluate husbandry practices and herd health management in dairy farms in Mostaganem province, located in north Algeria. Data was collected through face-to-face interviews with 56 farmers, followed by a visit to the production environment of the dairy cows. The results showed that 64% of farmers feed their cows a basic ration of oat hay and straw, while 32% use corn silage. On average, 9.85 ±0.32 kg of concentrate was distributed per dairy cow. Most farms didn’t have efficient forage production, while only 21% of them produced all the necessary forage. The average milk production per cow on the surveyed farms was 18.19 ±0.45 L, with a lactation length of 293.5 ±1.65 days. The cows were milked using a portable milking machine in poor hygienic conditions. Estrus detection was performed occasionally by farmers, and natural breeding was the main method of insemination, occurring at a rate of 63%. The voluntary waiting period was on average 76.6 ±3.56 days, and the average calving interval was 14.35 ±0.2 months. The culling rate in dairy farms was 23% on average, with the most common reasons for culling being mastitis and age at a rate of 23% and 21% respectively. The main diseases reported by the farmers were mastitis (82%), followed by lameness (57%). All surveyed farmers vaccinated their herds against only rabies and foot-and-mouth disease. This survey can help to identify the challenges and potential opportunities for improving dairy farm productivity and welfare in the Mostaganem province. The agricultural and economic sectors should work with farmers towards improving dairy farming techniques and practices, using efficient feeding systems and enhanced technology of dairy herd management, providing training and education to farmers, and resolving herd health issues to increase the economic efficiency of the dairy industry.

Keywords

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Zootechny (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Zakaria Meskini This is me
Algeria

Abdelkader El-amine Dahou This is me
Algeria

Djamaia Sabiha Radja This is me
Algeria

Houari Yerou This is me
Algeria

Abdelkader Homrani This is me
Algeria

Publication Date

April 23, 2023

Submission Date

October 10, 2022

Acceptance Date

-

Published in Issue

Year 2023 Volume: 37 Number: 1

APA
Meskini, Z., Dahou, A. E.- amine, Radja, D. S., Yerou, H., & Homrani, A. (2023). Survey of Herd Management on Conventional Dairy Farms in North Algeria. Selcuk Journal of Agriculture and Food Sciences, 37(1), 95-108. https://izlik.org/JA35HD27NY
AMA
1.Meskini Z, Dahou AE amine, Radja DS, Yerou H, Homrani A. Survey of Herd Management on Conventional Dairy Farms in North Algeria. Selcuk J Agr Food Sci. 2023;37(1):95-108. https://izlik.org/JA35HD27NY
Chicago
Meskini, Zakaria, Abdelkader El-amine Dahou, Djamaia Sabiha Radja, Houari Yerou, and Abdelkader Homrani. 2023. “Survey of Herd Management on Conventional Dairy Farms in North Algeria”. Selcuk Journal of Agriculture and Food Sciences 37 (1): 95-108. https://izlik.org/JA35HD27NY.
EndNote
Meskini Z, Dahou AE- amine, Radja DS, Yerou H, Homrani A (April 1, 2023) Survey of Herd Management on Conventional Dairy Farms in North Algeria. Selcuk Journal of Agriculture and Food Sciences 37 1 95–108.
IEEE
[1]Z. Meskini, A. E.- amine Dahou, D. S. Radja, H. Yerou, and A. Homrani, “Survey of Herd Management on Conventional Dairy Farms in North Algeria”, Selcuk J Agr Food Sci, vol. 37, no. 1, pp. 95–108, Apr. 2023, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA35HD27NY
ISNAD
Meskini, Zakaria - Dahou, Abdelkader El-amine - Radja, Djamaia Sabiha - Yerou, Houari - Homrani, Abdelkader. “Survey of Herd Management on Conventional Dairy Farms in North Algeria”. Selcuk Journal of Agriculture and Food Sciences 37/1 (April 1, 2023): 95-108. https://izlik.org/JA35HD27NY.
JAMA
1.Meskini Z, Dahou AE- amine, Radja DS, Yerou H, Homrani A. Survey of Herd Management on Conventional Dairy Farms in North Algeria. Selcuk J Agr Food Sci. 2023;37:95–108.
MLA
Meskini, Zakaria, et al. “Survey of Herd Management on Conventional Dairy Farms in North Algeria”. Selcuk Journal of Agriculture and Food Sciences, vol. 37, no. 1, Apr. 2023, pp. 95-108, https://izlik.org/JA35HD27NY.
Vancouver
1.Zakaria Meskini, Abdelkader El-amine Dahou, Djamaia Sabiha Radja, Houari Yerou, Abdelkader Homrani. Survey of Herd Management on Conventional Dairy Farms in North Algeria. Selcuk J Agr Food Sci [Internet]. 2023 Apr. 1;37(1):95-108. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA35HD27NY

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