A comparison of dairy cattle systems in an irrigated perimeter and in a suburban region: case study from Morocco |
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| Authors: | Mohamed Taher Sraïri Najat Kiade Rachid Lyoubi Samir Messad Bernard Faye |
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| Institution: | (1) Department of Animal Production and Biotechnology, Hassan II Institute of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 6 202, Rabat Institutes, 10 101 Rabat, Morocco;(2) Animal Production Program, CIRAD Environnement et Sociétés, Campus international de Baillarguet, TA30/A, 34 398 Montpellier Cedex 5, France |
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| Abstract: | Multivariate analyses were used to compare dairy production practices and their consequences on milk yield and profitability
in cattle farms from two representative regions of Morocco. A regular follow-up of 118 farms (48 in the Rabat-Salé suburban
belt and 70 in the Gharb irrigated perimeter) was undertaken to obtain accurate data. Results show significant differences
between the two regions. Intensive milk production was more frequent in the suburban zone (more concentrates and better annual
milk yield per cow). When conducting a “within-region” principal components analysis, farms’ discrimination appeared to take
into account all management variables (feeding, cattle sales, profitability), with no reference to farms’ structural parameters
(arable land and number of cattle). A typology of farms was then established using cluster analysis, with 4 distinct groups,
namely: a) concentrates wasters, b) farms with a relatively important milk yield per cow, c) deficit dairy farms and d) beef oriented farms. The last group included almost exclusively farms from the irrigated perimeter (5 out of 7). These results
indicate that dairy production promotion in Morocco requires more than just the intensification of forage production, but
should focus also on improving management practices. The extension of complete and balanced dairy rations is urgently needed
to enhance milk yield and profitability. |
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| Keywords: | Concentrates Dairy cattle Irrigated perimeter Morocco Profitability Suburban region Typology |
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