Chest Infections And Having Time Off Work

Holstein Dairy Breeds in Tunisia: Brown Atlas

"A race that disappears is irreversible. It is a heritage of both genetic, cultural and economic lost forever. "Coutard JM

The presentation of this local race seemed imperative because it still occupies an important place in the family economy in our country and rural that despite a small dairy herd is an existing dairy potential significant.

The Brown Atlas is a cow that has populated the steppes and mountains from the North African Berber and time is probably of Iberian origin. It is a Mixed ability cow (milk and meat), and is small in size weighing between 250 and 350 kg. The color is often reddish brown (gray dresses and studded black vultures have been cited in the literature). Originally these cattle were used as draft animals (and the bourgeois), and incidentally providing meat, milk and manure. The advent of mechanization has largely guided these animals for the production of veal whose meat is highly prized.

Its small size allows it to live in arid regions. She is able to live low and enhance plant useless for humans. In addition, its ability to quickly replenish its reserves during the springtime, its breeding facilities and excellent maternal qualities help ensure the growth of the calf in the toughest conditions.

Milk production is very low and is about 4 kg / day and may reach 10 kg / d for the best individuals. Lactation can last between 6 and 300 days. However the low level of production is offset by high production of fat. The fat content may exceed 5.0%.

herds are rare: it is often one or two animals per family. However, given the number of heads from the local population, the total milk production is consistent and represents a significant potential in Tunisia (50 000 L / d during the spring in areas of Sejenène Nefza and north-west Tunisia).

During the protectorate of the White Fathers Thibar (northwestern Tunisia) have worked hard to create a local dairy breed by conducting crosses between Brown's Atlas and Zebu. Unfortunately the animals from these crosses have disappeared over the years. In the 1970s a scheme Selection has been established for the preservation and improvement of animal performance that breed. The objective of this program was the proliferation of breeding and dissemination of genetic progress from growers in parts of North West. For various reasons this work failed and the disappearance of this race is inevitable if the government does not react.

References

Aissaoui C., Benkahla A., Aouad H., 2003. Renc. Rech. Ruminants 111
Coutard JM, 2002. "At Bedochaud" Ozillac 17500.
Geoffrey HS 1919. The livestock in North Africa .