Socio-economic and technical evaluation of sheep and goat farms in north west coast of Egypt
Abstract: The main objective of this study was to analyze the socio-economic situation of small ruminant farms at mixed farming system of different farm sizes in North West Coast of Egypt (NWCE). Ninety eight sheep and goat farms under mixed farming system were randomly selected. The selected farms were divided into three categories according to flock size holding; small < 185 animals (49 farms), medium> 185 < 383 animals (31farms) and large> 383 animals (18 farms). Questionnaire was designed and pre-tested on limited numbers of farms who have good experience in crops, sheep and goat production. Primary data were collected by interviewing selected farmers plus secondary data were used from the Economic Affairs Sectors belonging to the Ministry Agriculture and Land Reclamation. Results show that average cultivated areas are 58.66, 96.36 and 116.63 feddan for the three farm sizes, respectively. Five crops were commonly cultivated in the studied areas: barely and wheat as winter crops, watermelon as summer crop and two types of fig and olive trees. Average gross margin/animal/year for male sheep and goat were L.E. 478, 676 and 722 for sheep and 388, 452 and 403 for goat in small, medium and large farm sizes, respectively, which denote that farm gross margin was increased as farm size increased. Illiteracy level decreased with the small farm size whereas large farmers are focusing on trading with farm business. It can be concluded that special attention would be paid to improve revenue from sheep and goat production among small farms. This can be implied by introducing fertile males (rams) with superior genetic potential accompanied by improving feed. Farmers educations have to be improved as disseminate of new technologies would be much easier for educated farmer.
Keywords: mixed farming systems, crops, milk, gross margin, manure and education.
Publication year 2012
Pages 29-42
Availability location معهد بحوث الانتاج الحيوانى-شارع نادى الصيد- الدقى- الجيزة
Availability number
Organization Name
City شرم الشيخ
serial title Egyptian Journal of Sheep and Goat Sciences(Broceedings Book of 4th International Scientific Conference on Small Ruminant Development)
ISSN 2090-0386
Author(s) from ARC
AGROVOC
TERMS		 Crops. Education. Fertilizer distributors. Gross margins. Milk. Organic fertilizers.
Proposed Agrovoc mixed farming systems;
Publication Type Journal
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