| Abstrakt: |
In Egypt, there are about 3.6 million heads of buffalo cows which produce 2.4 million tons of milk representing 46.9% of the total milk production in the country. The rest is mostly met from imported Holstein and Brown Swiss dairy cows. The objective of this research review is to compare the productive and reproductive performances of native water buffaloes with the imported Holstein and Brown Swiss cattle in Egypt on the one hand, and to compare them with the performance of these breeds in their home stead in the southern part of Europe on the other hand aiming to generate information about the adaptability of the imported cattle breeds to the native climatic condition in Egypt to strategize appropriate breeding and husbandry plans to enhance their productivity. The review is based on selected research papers on the topic. The results revealed that the total milk yield of Holstein (8550 kg), Brown Swiss (8291 kg) and buffalo (2200 kg) cows in Egypt were 14.3%, 8% and 56% less than their European counterparts probably due to the negative impact of prevailing subtropical thermal environment of Egypt, besides the age-old classical animal husbandry practices in respect of native buffaloes. The greatest decline in milk yield was in buffaloes, which could be attributed to feeding of impoverished and nutritionally feeble feed stuff. But, people are fond of buffalo milk due to its high-fat delicacy (8% fat) and protein-rich nutrititivity (4.5% protein) besides its composition based attractive pricing system. Longer age at first calving and calving interval (35 months & 455 days respectively) of buffaloes compared to Holstein and Brown Swiss cows in Egypt display clear economic disadvantage to the dairy industry. Mediocre feed efficiency (Dry matter intake, kg/1 kg of milk) of buffaloes (1.75 kg) is also economically subversive compared to the feed efficiency of Holstein (0.78 kg) and Brown Swiss (0.74) cows in Egypt. It is also inferior to the feed efficiency of the buffaloes in Europe (1.05 kg). By and large, buffaloes are economically disadvantageous because of their low milk yield, longer age at first calving, longer calving interval, longer open days, weaker persistency and lower feed efficiency, compared to European cows in Egypt. Hence, the researchers should focus to overcome these shortfalls using advanced genetic tools like selection, improving the nutrient contents in feed and adopting modern husbandry practices to enhance buffalo numerals and production in Egypt. An erroneous impression held against buffaloes is emission of higher volume of methane gas by enteric fermentation which causes environmental degradation due to its green house effect. However, in reality buffalo is more eco-friendly than cow, since a buffalo produces 58% lower amount of methane per day (157 gm) compared to a cow (376 gm). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
