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Abstract
The study objectives were to assess the technical and economic performance of sheep and goats enterprises in new land territories in Egypt. The study used a sample survey of a sample size 15 farm in Noubaria region, Behira Governorate; the sample covered the data of the 2011 agricultural year. In addition to the descriptive statistics estimates, the financial statements were analyzed to estimate the profitability and return to investment. Estimated technical performance indicators of sheep and goats production in new land of Egypt showed that the average lambing rate of the herd was about 80%, and the rate of twining was about 10%, and the followed breeding policy was 3 lambing every 2 years, and the mortality rate from birth to weaning was around 26%, and growing the lambs was from weight 22kg initial weight to 47kg selling weight for 90 days with a daily growth rate about 0.2774 live weight. The feeding system was 1.274 of concentrate feed mix.
The average operating costs per ewe (with its followers) was about? Where the variable costs represented 52% and mostly feed costs. The rest was imputed fixed costs which included full time family labor and management. The cost of fattening the lambs was 76% of the total herd's cost. The average annual income per ewe with its followers was? The most important item of income was the cash sales (61%).
All profitability indicators were positive and feasible, which means that all the sheep and goats farms in new territories achieved positive net profit, and covered all items of costs, either paid or imputed.
Therefore, sheep enterprising in new land showed a promising opportunity for generating feasible employment for landless farmers that could be moved from the Nile valley. The profit margin was 20% and the return to investment rate was 15%. However such rate has shown high sensitivity to the increase in concentrate feed price. Even though, sheep breeding and lambs fattening in small to medium flocks in new land territories provide two other positive externalities which are improving the poor soil fertility in such areas and baring un favorite climate conditions in such arid and semi- and regions