Feed Autonomy of a Few Dairy Cattle Farms in the Mitidja Plain (Algeria)

Abstract

Feed autonomy of 15 dairy cattle farms was assessed during the 2019-2020 agricultural campaign. This autonomy is declined according to the food nature (fodder and concentrate) and their composition (dry matter, energy and protein). Autonomy is on average of 74.79% for dry matter, 75.10% for energy and 76.36% for protein. Fodder autonomy is on average of 93.58%, whereas for concentrate, the farms are 100% dependent on the external provision of feed. Overall, the farms produce fodder but in insufficient quantity, they therefore resort to the purchase of hay bales. This is explained by the weakness of the fodder sole and the high consumption of concentrate.