A field survey was conducted in many villages in Fayoum
Governorate in 30 small holdings, with < 10 animal each. About 70%
of total animal production is produced from the small holdings in
Egypt. A monthly monitoring program was carried out along four
successive years to determine productive and reproductive
performance of buffaloes, Baladi cows and crossbreed cows under
mixed farming system (plant and animal production) of small holdings
as well as the reproductive management system for animals of the
small holdings. Baladi cows represented the highest percentage of the
herd structure (54%) followed by buffaloes (38%), while percentage of
crossbreed cows amounted (8%). On the other side, the breedable
females percentages in Baladi cows, buffaloes and crossbreed cows
were 28, 19 and 4% respectively. In addition, the young females (< 1.5
year age) were 17, 11and 2% in Baladi cows, buffaloes and cross breed
cows respectively. On the other hand the percentages of young Baladi ,
buffaloes and crossbreed males were 15., 7.and 1% respectively
.Generally, the farmers fed their animals on mainly berseam during
winter - spring, and fed on crop residues, concentrates and variable
amounts of green fodder (mostly – Darawah) during summer- autumn.
Sold cows and buffaloes' calves were weaned at 1.5 and 3 months old,
respectively. Those retained for breeding were weaned at 3 and 4
months of age respectively. Most farmers (90%) used frequent
bellowing as a sign for detecting estrus in buffaloes, while mounting
activity was the most used sign (92%)in cattle. Age at first calving in
Baladi cows, crossbreed cows and buffaloes averaged 32.42± 1.52 ,
33.4± 1.4 and 34.86± 1.86 months respectively. The intervals from
calving to first post – partum estrus, first post – partum service, fertile
service and calving interval for Baladi cows were 73.46 ± 2.94, 73.92 ±
2.52, 101.06±3.08 and 386.94±13.2 days, respectively. While the same
estimates were 80.44±3.2, 83.12±2.82, 105.4±3.1 and 396.76±13.50
days for crossbreed cows. and 92.58± 4.68, 91.50 ± 3.46, 119.94±3.32
and 444.58±14.74 days for buffaloes respectively. Number of services
required for conception averaged 1.5 in Baladi and 1.58 in crossbreed
cows compared to 1.68 for buffaloes.