干旱区生态环境知识资源中心

In Egypt, the total milk production and its annual increase neither satisfy consumption requirements nor the annual growth of human population which results in a dairy food gap. To face this gap, about two thirds of the needed dairy products have been imported since 1993. The main sources of milk production are buffaloes and cows, while goat milk represents not more than 0.45% of the total supply. Since, the natural vegetation and the geophysical properties, in arid and semi-arid areas are not suitable for livestock other than small ruminants there is a great interest in improving the milk yield from goats. This could be achieved by introducing intensive production systems on the newly reclaimed land which could supply goats with fodder crops and crop residues. A second change would be to improve the milk producing ability of local goats through crossbreeding programs using the improved Zariebi breed or the exotic breeds especially the heat tolerant breeds. Milk collecting centres and the small-scale goat cheese industries in every community are important to overcome the constraints facing production of goat milk. Further such facilities could carryout technology research of goats' milk.

This paper also discusses the potential advantages of buffaloes and goats as dairy animals and their reproductive performance on some governmental farms of Egypt. Goats have proved to be more efficient in utilizing feeds for the production of milk or meat.