Classifying and Characterizing Buffalo Farming Systems in the Egyptian Nile Delta Using Cluster Analysis

Abstract

The objective of the study was to classify and characterize the buffalo farming systems in the Delta region of Egypt using multivariate statistical analysis approach. A survey was conducted on 963 buffalo holders to classify and characterize dairy buffalo farming systems in the region of Delta Egypt. Data of 9665 heads of buffalo were used. Two multivariate statistical techniques, the principal component analysis (PCA) followed by the cluster analysis (CA) were applied to all the variables of the survey. A three different buffalo groups resulted; cluster 1(C1) :included 34% of the farms keeping 5132 heads of buffaloes. Itis characterized by large average for both farmland area (4.9 feddan) and buffalo herd size(15.6 heads). Production and reproduction performance of buffaloes was the best (milk yield, 2608kg; lactation period,258 days; and number of services/conception, 1.5). Cluster 2 (C2): included 35% of farms with1905 heads of buffaloes. It included the smallest average farmland area (3.1 feddan) and the fewest average buffalo herd size (5.6 heads).Cluster 3 (C3): included 31%of farms which kept 2628 heads of buffaloes. It was marked with intermediate values of farmland area, buffalo herd size and productive and reproductive performance of buffaloes that filled between those of C1 and 2.In all clusters, buffaloes were traditionally managed; hand milked and naturally bred. After taking their needs, farmers sell surplus raw milk and dairy products through informal markets. Efficient or regular milk marketing channels were completely absent. Access of veterinary and extension services was not sufficient and inefficient.

GENETIC ASSESSMENT AND TRENDS FOR MILK PRODUCTION TRAITS IN A HERD OF EGYPTIAN BUFFALOES (Bubalus bubalis)

“…The buffalo is a species that produces milk and is also a significant source of meat in Egypt. In Egypt, buffaloes contribute 44% and 39% of the milk and red meat supplied to the local market, respectively (Abdel-Salam and Fahim, 2018).Egyptian buffaloes exhibit a remarkable tolerance and robustness in tropical and subtropical climates, especially when compared to their hybridization with the Italian breed (Nasr, 2017) Partitioning the total phenotypic variance of the animal economic traits into a genetic and nongenetic component is the most important factor in determining the real progress that can be achieved (Abou-Bakr, 2009). Especially in the current status with very limited information that available for genomic evaluation of milk production and other traits in Egyptian buffalo (El-Halawany et al, 2017).…”

Characteristics of Buffalo Farming Systems in Turkey Based on a Multivariate Aggregation of Indicators: A Survey Study

“…In the case of buffalo husbandry, farmers showed high variability in farm management strategies [ 23 ] and efficiency levels [ 12 , 24 ]. Therefore, such a typology analysis would be explanatory to determine the heterogeneity that exists in buffalo husbandry.…”