The reproductive performance of Egyptian cows and buffaloes in mixed crop-livestock system in small holdings in Fayoum Region

الملخص EN

A field survey was conducted in many villages in Fayoum Governorate in 30 small holdings, with < 10 animal each.

About 70% of total animal production is produced from the small holdings in Egypt.

A monthly monitoring program was carried out along four successive years to determine productive and reproductive performance of buffaloes, Baladi cows and crossbreed cows under mixed farming system (plant and animal production) of small holdings as well as the reproductive management system for animals of the small holdings.

Baladi cows represented the highest percentage of the herd structure (54%) followed by buffaloes (38%), while percentage of crossbreed cows amounted (8%).

On the other side, the breedable female’s percentages in Baladi cows, buffaloes and crossbreed cows were 28, 19 and 4% respectively.

In addition, the young females ( < 1.5 year age) were 17, 11 and 2% in Baladi cows, buffaloes and cross breed cows respectively.

On the other hand the percentages of young Baladi, buffaloes and crossbreed males were 15., 7.

and 1% respectively .Generally, the farmers fed their animals on mainly berseam during winter - spring, and fed on crop residues, concentrates and variable amounts of green fodder (mostly – Darawah) during summer- autumn.

Sold cows and buffaloes’ calves were weaned at 1.5 and 3 months old, respectively.

Those retained for breeding were weaned at 3 and 4 months of age respectively.

Most farmers (90%) used frequent bellowing as a sign for detecting estrus in buffaloes, while mounting activity was the most used sign (92%) in cattle.

Age at first calving in Baladi cows, crossbreed cows and buffaloes averaged 32.42 ± 1.52, 33.4 ± 1.4 and 34.86± 1.86 months respectively.

The intervals from calving to first post – partum estrus, first post – partum service, fertile service and calving interval for Baladi cows were 73.46 ± 2.94, 73.92 ± 2.52, 101.06 ± 3.08 and 386.94 ± 13.2 days, respectively.

While the same estimates were 80.44 ± 3.2, 83.12 ± 2.82, 105.4 ± 3.1 and 396.76 ± 13.50 days for crossbreed cows.

and 92.58 ± 4.68, 91.50 ± 3.46, 119.94 ± 3.32 and 444.58±14.74 days for buffaloes respectively.

Number of services required for conception averaged 1.5 in Baladi and 1.58 in crossbreed cows compared to 1.68 for buffaloes.