Techno-Economics Assessment of Genetic Improvement via Artificial Insemination in Dairy Cattle in Dakahlia Governorate

In Egypt, the importance of increasing the domestic production of milk via genetic improvement stems from the lack of horizontal expansion in cattle population due to the limited feeds production because of water and agricultural land resources constraints. Dakahlia is the second highest governorate for rates of cattle milk productivity, estimated by 1.1, 2.8 and 5 t head–1 for Baladi, hybrid and foreign breed respectively in the average overall the period (2010-2014). Therefore, this research aims to study the merits and the feasibility of genetic Improvement via the Artificial Insemination (AI) in dairy cattle in Dakahlia governorate to extend the successful applying of genetic improvement program in this governorate and the other governorates; as a stress on the importance of increasing the domestic production and the income of dairy milk in Egypt through investments in AI. A statistical analysis and mathematical economic model were designed and implemented by using Excel and SPSS programs software to study some factors affecting milk production of dairy cattle herds; then, estimates the Extra Internal Rate of Return (EIRR) as a criterion of the feasible economic along the full productive life of the daughter of the cow served by AI of the concerned sire’s semen. The data of the cow milk productive and reproductive performance traits were collected from the questionnaire has designed and implemented through a stratified random sample survey of the commercial farms are specialized in the investment of hybrid dairy cattle in Dakahlia governorate in the year 2014. The results showed the effects of every order of the season of calving, the lactation season in the year and the age at the first calving are statistically significant at the confidence level less than 0.10. As, the economic criterions indicate the most probable Extra Internal Rate of Return (EIRR) is around 26, 31 and 33% for small, medium and large farm scale, respectively. The highest negative effect on EIRR for the three farm scales is the increase of feeding costs (It drops by about 7, 7 and 6%), followed by the negative effect of the increase of number of services for conception (EIRR decreases by around 6, 6 and 5%). Lastly, the negative effect of the decrease of dairy cow milk price (EIRR diminishes by about 4, 3 and 3%). Generally, the genetic improvement investment via AI in dairy cattle in Dakahlia governorate is high feasible.