African Journal of Dairy Farming and Milk Production

African Journal of Dairy Farming and Milk Production Vol. 1 (1), pp. 001-007, August, 2013. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Factors affecting dairy farmers' utilization of agricultural supports in Erzurum, Turkey

H. Bayram I ık*, Adem Aksoy and Fahri Yavuz

Department of Agricultural Economics, College of Agriculture, Ataturk University, 25240 Erzurum, Turkey.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: +90 442 231 2587. Fax: +90 442 231 2678.

Accepted 23 March, 2013

Abstract

Due to the nature and strategic importance of agriculture, governments in whole world somehow support agricultural sector. This sector plays an important role in Turkish economy despite the share of industry and services are rising constantly. The sector has basic structural problems such as poor mechanization, small farm size and uncoordinated and unplanned agricultural production. Although Turkey has developed substantial agricultural policy reforms, particularly in animal husbandry sector, to be in line with European Union and World Trade Organization regulations, there are a lot to do to improve the sector. One of the most important aspects of the agricultural supports is to distribute them efficiently and in an equitable way to the sector. This study aims to explore the factors affecting the dairy farmers’ utilization of agricultural supports using ordered probit approach. For this end, survey data were used and the results showed that education level, form of farming, breed and roughage usage variables were good predictors of dairy farmers’ utilization of agricultural supports. Therefore, in order to have an efficient and equitable agricultural support policy, education level of the farmers can be increased and farmers can be induced to have a more market-oriented production and culture breeds.

Key words: Agricultural supports, dairy farms, ordered probit, Turkey.

African Journal of Dairy Farming and Milk Production Vol. 1 (1), pp. 008-011, August, 2013. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Contamination of informally marketed bovine milk with Staphylococcus aureus in urban and peri urban areas of Debre-Zeit, Ethiopia

Fanta Desissa¹*, Kohei Makita^2,3, Akafte Teklu¹ and Delia Grace²

¹Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Addis Ababa University, P. O. Box 34, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia.

²Improving Market Opportunities Theme, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), P. O. Box 30709, Nairobi,

Kenya.

³School of Veterinary Medicine, Rakuno Gakuen University, 069-8501, Ebetsu, Japan.  

 *Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: +2510911030412.

Accepted 8 March, 2013

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was conducted from October, 2009 to March, 2010 to assess the level of contamination of informally marketed milk with Staphylococcus aureus at farms and milk collection centers in Debre-Zeit, Ethiopia. One hundred and seventy raw farm bulk milk samples, 25 mixed bulk milk samples and 20 pasteurized and packaged milk samples were collected from 14 milk collection centers and isolation and identification of S. aureus were carried out following standard method. S. aureus was isolated from 44% of farm bulk milk and 72% of milk collection centers’ bulk milk and it was not detected from pasteurized milk samples. Contamination rates of farm bulk milk with S. aureus were significantly different among the collection centers (c² = 31.8, df = 13, p = 0.003). The milk produced and collected in peri-urban areas was significantly more contaminated with S. aureus (64%) than milk produced and collected in urban areas (38%) (c² = 7.18, df = 1, p = 0.007). The frequency of isolation of S. aureus in milk collection centers bulk milk varied between 67 and 100% among collection centers. However, the contamination rates were not significantly different among these collection centers (c² =1.5, df = 4, p = 0.83). The overall contamination rate at collection centers (72%) was significantly higher than that at the farm level (33%, c² = 10.6, df = 1, p = 0.001). Overall, the study revealed that milk produced and collected in and around Debre-Zeit was found to be contaminated with S. aureus, raising the issue of quality control and improving the safety of milk to safeguard the consumer from associated health problems and enabling the producers to earn much more from milk sale.

Key words: Bulk milk, collection centers, Debre-Zeit, Ethiopia, Staphylococcus aureus.

African Journal of Dairy Farming and Milk Production Vol. 1 (4), pp. 079-084, November, 2013. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effect of non-genetic factors on milk production of Holstein Friesian × Deoni crossbred cows

Zewdu Wondifraw*, B. M. Thombre and D. V. Bainwad

Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairy Science, College of Agriculture, Marathwada Agricultural University (MAU), Parbhani- 431402 (M.S) India.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: +251910172313 Fax: +215587711764.

Accepted 9 September, 2013

Abstract

This research was conducted to evaluate the effect of non-genetic factors on milk production of Holstein Friesian × Deoni crossbred cows. Data representing 256 HF × Deoni crossbred cows from cattle crossbreeding project with 1485 total records of lactation over a 30 years period were analyzed to determine the effects of period of calving, season of calving, age at first calving and parity on milk production. The overall least squares mean of lactation milk yield, 305 days milk yield, lactation length, and milk yield per day of lactation length were 1661.35±15.17, 1707.25±13.25, 296.80±2.29 and 5.65±0.04 kg, respectively. All sources of variation were significant except season of calving for 305 days milk yield and lactation length; age at first calving for 305 days milk yield and milk yield per day of lactation length. Milk production was depressed for cows calving in summer. First lactation cows had lowest milk production, and highest production occurred in 5^th parity. It was therefore, concluded that, HF × Deoni crossbred cows were affected by non-genetic factors.

Key words: Crossbred cows, productive traits, period and season of calving, parity.

African Journal of Dairy Farming and Milk Production Vol. 1 (4), pp. 072-078, November, 2013.© International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

The perceived impact of climate change and variability on smallholder dairy production in northern Malawi

Victor Kasulo¹*, Susan Chikagwa-Malunga², Mizeck Chagunda³ and David Roberts³

¹Department of Forestry, Mzuzu University, Private Bag 201, Luwinga, Mzuzu 2, Malawi.

²Lunyangwa Research Station, P. O. Box 59, Mzuzu, Malawi.

³Sustainable Livestock Systems Group, SAC Research, King’s Buildings, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JG, Scotland, UK.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: 265 888343494 or 265 111930812. Fax: +265 320568.

Accepted 21 August, 2013

Abstract

Farmers’ perception of climate change is very important for their adoption of adaptation strategies. This paper analyses dairy farmers’ perceptions of changes in rainfall patterns and its impact on dairy production in northern Malawi. Farmers’ perception was obtained through a survey and analysed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square test and a multi-nominal regression model. The accuracy of farmers’ perceptions was assessed with reference to actual rainfall data in the study area. The results revealed that majority (40%) of the respondents perceived that the amount of rainfall that the area had received over the past five years had increased. However, this was not supported by actual rainfall data. The farmers were also of the view that an increase in the amount of rainfall led to an increase in pasture production, water availability and milk production. Results from the multi-nominal regression model showed a strong relationship between milk production on one hand and water availability, and pasture production on the other. The results imply that dairy farmers in the study area do not perceive climate variability as an immediate problem and highlight the need to sensitize them about the current and projected changes in climate, their vulnerability and adaptation strategies.

Key words: Climate change and variability, dairy production, Malawi, multi-nominal regression, perception.