الفهرس 
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Abstract
The dairy production plays a vital role in improving people’s nutritional status, generating income to farmers and improving soil fertility through manure application. With recent global trends, competitiveness of milk production is of great importance, where the question on who will produce the cheapest milk in the future? Needs to be answered. This means that the costs of dairy production must be low enough to eliminate foreign competition and at the same time, returns from dairying need to be satisfactory for the farmers so that they are motivated to stay in business. This study was carried out in Behira, Alexandria and Kafr-Elsheikh provinces during the period extended from Summer 2012 to Winter 2014 on random samples of dairy production sectors. These sectors were Farmers (Fallahy), Private farms and Governmental farms. The dairy breeds included in this study were Balady (Local breed), Holstein-Friesian (Exotic breed) and Cross-bred (Balady X Friesian) to ;- Evaluate the factors affecting the productive and reproductive efficiency of dairy cattle under Egyptian conditions. Estimate the economic parameters including cost of production, gross return, net profit and studying the inter-relationships among different inputs, outputs and production parameters. Study the incidences of common productive, reproductive and infectious diseases. The data used in this research collected from the accurate records which available in dairy farms and the structured questionnaire method during the field survey. The collected data was classified into productive, reproductive and financial parameters. A number of parameters particularly reproductive aspects such as days open, calving interval, services per conception, dry period and a number of reproductive disorders. The milk production was also recorded. The feeding regime and different input and output costs. The collected data were summarized, classified then analyzed separately using computer statistical program (SPSS, version 16). The results of this study are summarized in various sub-sections as follows: A- Dairy cattle production and reproduction Dairy cattle breeds (Balady, Holstein-Friesian and Cross-bred), different production sectors (Fallahy, Private and Governmental farms), different localities (Behira, Alexandria and Kafr-Elsheikh) and the season (Summer and Winter) in each of them were found to have a significant effect on the variables affecting the productive and reproductive efficiency, and these variables are: 1 – Dairy cattle production efficiency• The average days in milk were higher and longer for cattle breeds that calved in Winter than Summer season. • The average days in milk were longer (121.224, 145.25 and 157.37 days /cow) in Winter season for Balady, Cross-bred and Holstein-Friesian cows, respectively. While, it was shorter (119.14, 136.54 and 142.41 days /cow) in summer season for Balady, Cross-bred and Holstein-Friesian cows, respectively. • Locality had a significant effect (P<0.01) on days in milk according to season. The highest value (144.59 days/cow) recorded in Behira governorate in Winter season. While, the lowest value (132.84 days/cow) recorded in Kafr-Elsheikh governorate in Summer season. • Season within sector had a significant effect ( 0.01) on days in milk. As, the average days in milk ranged from (128.21 to 154.97 day) for farmers sector in Summer season and governmental sector in Winter season. 2- Dairy cattle reproduction efficiency • The average value of calving intervals ranged from (370.38 day/cow to 383.45 day/cow) for crossbred in Winter season and Friesian breed in Summer season. While, the highest value of calving interval ranged from (369.56 day/cow to 381.11 day/cow) for Alexandria and Behira governorates in Summer season, respectively. Moreover, its value ranged from (364.88 day/cow to 385.49 day/cow) for special sector in Summer season and governmental sector in Winter season, respectively. The average value of days open ranged from (90.88 day/cow to 107.14 day/cow) for crossbred in Winter season and Friesian breed in Summer season. While, the value of days open ranged from (92.34 day/cow to 103.46 day/cow) for Alexandria governorate in Summer season and Behira governorate in Summer season, respectively. Moreover, its value ranged from (86.12 to 108.81 day/cow) in Winter season for special and governmental sectors. • Dry period was shorter for Friesian cattle than crossbred and balady. The highest value of dry period (136.73 day/cow) recorded in balady breed in Winter season and the lowest value (65.54 day/cow) in Friesian breed in Winter season. While, dry period highest value ranged from (91.38 day/cow to 100.90 day/cow) for Alexandria governorate in Summer season and Kafr-Elsheikh governorate in Winter season. Moreover, its highest value (117.04 day/cow) recorded in farmers sector in Winter season and the lowest value (73.71 day/cow) in special sector in Summer season. • The average length of gestation period ranged from (276.29 to 279.5days) in Holstein-Friesian and crossbred cattle that calved in Winter seasons, respectively. While, gestation period highest value (278.72 day / cow) recorded in Kafr-Elsheikh governorate in Winter season. Moreover, its value ranged from (276.68 to 279 days) in Winter seasons for governmental and special sectors, respectively. The higher services per conception (2.22, 2.25and 2.41 S/C) were recorded for Balady, Cross bred and Holstein-Friesian cows, respectively in Summer season. While, the highest value recorded for service per conception (2.37 S/c) in Kafr-Elsheikh governorate in Summer season. Moreover, its higher values ranged from (2.27 to 2.40S/C) in Summer season recorded for governmental and farmers sectors, respectively 3- Cost components of dairy cattle production The cost components of dairy production consists of fixed cost and variable cost 3.1: Fixed cost • The average fixed cost differed significantly according to breed, locality, sectors and season within each of them The average value of fixed cost was higher (1614.31 LE/cow/year) for Holstein-Friesian, then (687.11 LE/cow/year) for Cross-bred and (459.05 LE/cow/year) for Balady breed, respectively. 3.2: Variable cost • The average feed cost was the highest (12142.99 LE /cow) for Holstein-Friesian cow in Summer season and the lowest (1706.64 LE/cow) for Balady cow in Winter season. While, the average feed cost was the highest (7017.94 LE/cow) for Alexandria governorate in Summer season and the lowest (4751.29 LE/cow) for Kafr-Elsheikh governorate in Winter season. Moreover, the average feed cost was the highest (9495.34 LE/cow) for special sector in Summer season and the lowest (3169.98 LE/cow) for farmers sector in Winter season. The highest value of veterinary costs recorded in Holstein-Friesian cow (154.84 LE/cow) in Winter season and the lowest value (86.45 LE/cow) for Balady cow in Summer season. While, veterinary costs achieved the highest value for Behira governorate (126.76 LE/cow) in Winter season and the lowest value (112.74LE /cow) for Alexandria governorate in Summer season. Moreover, It achieved the highest value for governmental sector (143.18 LE/cow) in Winter season and the lowest value (102.99 LE/cow) for farmers sector in Summer season The value of labor cost increased (1212.84 and 813.13LE/cow/season) for Holstein-Friesian and Cross-bred, respectively. While, the labor cost ranged from (866.80 and 964.84 LE/cow) for Behira governorate in Winter season and Alexandria governorate in Summer season, respectively. Moreover, it ranged from (759.87 to 1110.71 LE/cow/season) for governmental sectors in Summer season and farmers sectors in Winter season, respectively. The average level of other cost (electricity cost and water cost) was higher for Holstein-Friesian breeds than other breeds, and for governmental and special sectors than farmers sectors. While, locality and seasons not affect significantly other cost >• The average value of total variable costs was lower (2456.49 LE/cow/season) for Balady breed in Winter season while, it higher (13538.93LE/cow/season) for Holstein-Friesian breed in Summer months. The average variable cost was lower (5776.96 LE/cow) for Kafr-Elsheikh governorate in Winter season while, it higher (8127.75 LE/cow) for Alexandria governorate in Summer months. Moreover, it was lower (4065.31 LE/cow/season) for farmers sectors in Winter season while, it was higher (10764.54 LE/cow/season) for special sector in Summer season 4- Return components of dairy cattle production 4.1: Milk return The amount of milk sale ranged from (662.22 to 5505.25 kg) for balady and Friesian breeds in Summer and Winter season, respectively. The highest milk return (24773.62 LE/ cow) was recorded for Holstein-Friesian in Winter season, and the lowest return (2497.55 LE/ cow) for Balady cow in Summer season. While, the amount of milk sale ranged from (2042.45 to 2855.57 kg) for Kafr-Elsheikh governorate in Summer season and Alexandria governorate in Winter season, respectively. The highest milk return (12799.63 LE/ cow) recorded for Alexandria governorate in Winter season, and the lowest return (7182.63 LE/ cow) recorded for Kafr-Elsheikh governorate in Summer season. Moreover, the amount of milk sale ranged from (1348.24 to 3958.88 /kg milk) for special sector in Winter season and farmers sectors in Summer season, respectively. The highest milk return (17814.97 LE/ cow) recorded for special sector in Winter season, and the lowest return (4814.43 LE/ cow) for farmers sectors in Summer season 4.2: Calf return The highest calf sale value (2150LE/cow/year) recorded for Holstein-Friesian that calved in Winter season, and the lowest value (361.90LE/cow) for Balady cattle that calved in Summer season. While, the highest calf sale value (1347.54 LE/cow/year) recorded for Kafr-Elsheikh governorate in Winter season, and the lowest value (280.95 LE/cow) recorded for Kafr-Elsheikh governorate in Summer season. Moreover, the highest calf sale value (1559.21 LE/calf) recorded for special sectors in Winter season, and the lowest value (401.90 LE/calf) for farmers sectors in Summer season 4.3: Total return The average total return recorded the highest value (27163.62 LE/cow/year) for Holstein-Friesian cow that calved in Winter season, and the lowest value (3603.45 LE/cow/year) for Balady cow that calved in Summer season. While, average total return recorded the highest value (14104.80 LE/cow) for Alexandria governorate in Winter season, and the lowest value (7956.75 LE/cow) for Kafr-Elsheikh governorate in Summer season. Moreover, the average total return recorded the highest value (19597.07 LE/cow) for private sector in Winter season, and the lowest value (5387.03 LE/cow) for farmers sectors in Summer season 5- Net profit of dairy cattle production In Balady breed, the average net profit ranged from (152.46 to 929.9 LE/cow) for Summer and Winter seasons, respectively. In Cross-bred, it ranged from (607.64 to 3437.95 LE/cow) for Summer and Winter calving, respectively. Also, in Holstein-Friesian was ranged from (1360.96 to 14573.63 LE/cow) for Summer and Winter seasons, respectively. While, The average net profit ranged from (123.82 to 6806.48 LE/cow) for Kafr-Elsheikh governorate in Summer season and Behira governorate in Winter seasons, respectively. Moreover, in private sectors, the average net profit ranged from (805.21 to 9846.45 LE/cow) for Summer and Winter seasons, respectively. In governmental sector, it ranged from (628.39 to 9827.6 LE/cow) for Summer and Winter seasons, respectively, and in farmers sector was ranged from (381.32 to 3569.63 LE/cow) for Summer and Winter seasons, respectively 6- Productive and reproductive diseases and disorders The major diseases causing severe economic losses in dairy cattle during the period of study were productive and reproductive diseases which include clinical mastitis, endometritis, lameness, repeat breeder and retained placenta. Also, infectious diseases which include foot and mouth disease, lumpy skin disease and ephemeral fever. Their incidence was recorded 7-Dairy production and cost functions The milk production functions were determined in linear and logarithmic forms and the best forms of the functions were the logarithmic functions which describe the relationship the milk production as the dependent variable and the variables affecting milk production as the independent variables. These functions indicated that the best variables affecting milk productions are barseem, tibn, hay, concentrates, silage, drug, vaccine, disinfectant, veterinary supervision, calving intervals, days open, dry period, service per conception and days in milk The cost functions were determined which explain the relationship between the costs of production, either variable or total costs, as the dependent variable and the milk production as independent variable This study concluded that, despite the lower fertility of Holstein-Friesian cows expressed in highest estimate of number of services per conception, days open, calving interval they surpassed all other breeds in the mean lactation length/season and highest net profit. Also, Behira governorate, winter season and special sectors had the significant lead of milk production.