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Performance of small-scale dairy farms in the highlands of central Mexico during the dry season under traditional feeding strategies

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Abstract

In Mexico, small-scale dairy systems (SSDS) represent over 78 % of dairy farms and contribute with 37 % of national milk production; however, they face high feeding costs. The objective of this study was to assess the performance of SSDS during the dry season in terms of milk yields, milk composition and feeding costs under traditional feeding strategies, to identify areas of opportunity for improving their profitability. The information was collected from 22 SSDS every month during dry season. Feeds were classified in quality forages (QF), supplements (SU) and straws (ST). Two factors were identified: factor 1—a positive relationship among QF, SU, milk yield and ration cost and factor 2—represented straw usage. Four feeding strategies were identified: (1) low-cost feeding strategy; (2) home-grown feeding strategy; (3) high-cost feeding strategy; and (4) straw-based feeding strategy. There were differences (P < 0.001) among feeding strategies for QF, SU, ST, total dry matter offered (TDMO), ration cost (RC), external inputs, home-grown inputs and milk yield. There were no significant (P > 0.05) differences among feeding strategies for fat and protein contents in milk. It is concluded that to improve performance and profitability and enhance sustainability in SSDS, farmers should base feeding strategies on home-grown quality forages, as it was the case in group 2 which showed lower feeding cost and better milk yield. It is also recommended to increase the inclusion of quality forages like grazing pastures and maize silages during the dry season and to avoid the inclusion of straws.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are very grateful with the 22 small-scale dairy farmers from Aculco, the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México (UAEM) for grant UAEM 2950/2010U and to the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT) of Mexico for the doctoral grant to Juan Pablo Anaya-Ortega.

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Authors declare there are no conflicts of interests.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Ciencias Agropecuarias y Rurales (ICAR), Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Instituto Literario #100, CP 50000, Toluca, Estado de México, Mexico

    Carlos Galdino Martínez-García, Juan Pablo Anaya-Ortega, Francisco Ernesto Martínez-Castañeda, Angélica Espinoza-Ortega, Fernando Prospero-Bernal & Carlos Manuel Arriaga-Jordán

  2. Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana - Unidad Lerma, División de Ciencias Biológicas y de la Salud, Departamento de Ciencias de la Alimentación, Toluca, Estado de México, Mexico

    Adolfo Armando Rayas-Amor

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  1. Carlos Galdino Martínez-García
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  2. Adolfo Armando Rayas-Amor
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  3. Juan Pablo Anaya-Ortega
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  4. Francisco Ernesto Martínez-Castañeda
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  5. Angélica Espinoza-Ortega
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  6. Fernando Prospero-Bernal
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  7. Carlos Manuel Arriaga-Jordán
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Correspondence to Carlos Manuel Arriaga-Jordán.

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Martínez-García, C.G., Rayas-Amor, A.A., Anaya-Ortega, J.P. et al. Performance of small-scale dairy farms in the highlands of central Mexico during the dry season under traditional feeding strategies. Trop Anim Health Prod 47, 331–337 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-014-0724-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-014-0724-0

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