Feeding practices of dairy cows in Algeria: Characterization, typology, and impact on milk production and fertility

Authors

  • Said Boukhechem Institute of Veterinary Science, University of Mentouri Constantine 1, 25017 Constantine, Algeria
  • Nassim Moula Department of Animal Production, Division of Genetics and Biostatistics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liege, 4000 Liege, Belgium
  • Nedjoua Lakhdara Institute of Veterinary Science, University of Mentouri Constantine 1, 25017 Constantine, Algeria
  • Rachid Kaidi School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, Leicestershire, UK

Keywords:

Algeria; calving interval; dry matter; fertility; net energy intake; nitrogen intake

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.

J. Adv. Vet. Anim. Res., 6(4): 567-574, December 2019

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.
Abstract
28
PDF
27

Downloads

Published

2019-11-19

How to Cite

Boukhechem, S., Moula, N., Lakhdara, N., & Kaidi, R. (2019). Feeding practices of dairy cows in Algeria: Characterization, typology, and impact on milk production and fertility. Journal of Advanced Veterinary and Animal Research, 6(4), 567–574. Retrieved from https://banglajol.info/index.php/JAVAR/article/view/44149

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 4 (2019)

Section

Original Articles

License

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:

Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.

Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.

Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).