Abstract: The study was based on findings obtained from a survey carried out in West Delta Region. Eighty farms were randomly selected and a field survey was done with small, medium and large-scale dairy farms in two districts during 2005 in Al-Behera Governorate (West Delta Region). The objective of the study was to compare some figures related to animal feeding, production, reproduction and economic efficiency of using production resources in large, medium and small scale dairy farms.
On farm visits were conducted and questionnaires completed to obtain information on daily feeds offered to buffalo, crossbred and local (Baladi) cows during both winter and summer seasons. Daily feed allowances were calculated according to nutritional requirements and a comparative study was made between the ongoing feeding regime and the calculated ones. During winter, the intake of DM and CP was higher than the requirements in all farms, while TDN intake was lower. During summer only DM was adequately covered while both TDN and CP intake was lower than the requirements. For large-scale this shortage was less than in medium and small farms.
The percentages of large dairy animals for buffalo, crossbred and Baladi cows were 26.4, 72.1 and 1.5 in large scale farms, 47.5, 31.1 and 21.4 in medium scale farms and 53.9,29.7 and 16.4 in small scale farms, respectively. Total animal units (AU) were 14.73, 7.89 and 1.71 for large, medium and small scale farms, respectively.
Lactation length was 248, 274 and 228 days for buffalo, crossbred and Baladi cows in the large scale farms. The corresponding figures for medium scale farms were 259, 275 and 231 days and those for small farms were 249,257 and 210 days, respectively. The results indicated that milk yield per lactation was 1744, 2467 and 1123 kg for buffalo, crossbred and Baladi cows in the large scale farms. The corresponding figures for medium scale farms were, 2233 and 1106 kg for medium and 1546, 1872 and 950 kg and those for small farms were 1546, 1872 and 950 kg, respectively. Number of completed parities for the the three genotypes, respectively were 2.5, 3.1 and 2.0 in large scale farms, 4.0, 3.3 and 4.0 in medium scale farms and 3.4, 3.5 and 2.9 in small scale dairy farms.
Average age of lactating animals for buffalo, crossbred and Baladi at study time was 4.1, 4.4 and 5.0 years in large scale farms, 6.6, 5.3 and 6.2 years in medium farms and 5.4, 5.5 and 4.7 years for small farms, respectively. Average weight of lactating animals of the three genotypes at the study time was 572, 462 and 413 kg in large farms, 557, 467 and 388 kg in medium farms and 499,430 and 367 kg in small farms, respectively. The corresponding figures for average days of calving interval were 457,380 and 407 in large farms, 445, 395 and 398 in medium farms and 450, 400 and 400 in small farms, respectively.
The economic analysis showed a higher total variable costs for large than medium and small farms. Total variable costs for buffalo, crossbred and Baladi animals were 3747, 3352 and 2724 LE in large farms, 3329, 3423 and 2612 LE in medium farms and 3317, 3465 and 2720 LE in small farms, respectively. The gross margin (GM) of crossbred and local cow increases with farm size, reaching about (2090, 2699, 3418 LE /head) for crossbred and about (692, 963, 1078 LE /head) for Baladi cows in small, medium and large dairy farms respectively. While it was higher for medium than large and small farms, 4019, 3433 and 3239 LE for buffalos, respectively.
In spite of the higher total cost for large than medium and small farms, the net revenue was higher for crossbred in large farms than medium and small farms being 2721, 2052 and 1766 LE for large, medium and small farms, respectively. While, it was higher for buffalos in medium farms than small and large dairy farms being 3273, 2890 and 2640 LE, for medium, small and large dairy farms, respectively. Also it was higher for Baladi in large farms than small and medium dairy farms being 436, 409 and 372 LE, respectively.
The higher net revenue of large farms for crossbred and medium farms for buffalos was due to better feeding and higher lactation length that increased average milk production.
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