Characterization of Awassi lamb fattening systems: a Syrian case study

Intensive lamb fattening systems are evolving in developing Middle Eastern countries due to high demand for lambs at favorable prices; however, little is known about their characteristics and constraints. A survey was conducted in Syria involving 241 farmers to characterize the fattening production...

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Main Authors: Wiedemann Hartwell, Birgitte, Iñiguez, Luis, Mueller, Joaquin Pablo, Wurzinger, María, Knaus, W.F.
Format: info:ar-repo/semantics/artículo
Language:Inglés
Published: 2017
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/1679
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11250-010-9608-0
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-010-9608-0
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author Wiedemann Hartwell, Birgitte
Iñiguez, Luis
Mueller, Joaquin Pablo
Wurzinger, María
Knaus, W.F.
author_browse Iñiguez, Luis
Knaus, W.F.
Mueller, Joaquin Pablo
Wiedemann Hartwell, Birgitte
Wurzinger, María
author_facet Wiedemann Hartwell, Birgitte
Iñiguez, Luis
Mueller, Joaquin Pablo
Wurzinger, María
Knaus, W.F.
author_sort Wiedemann Hartwell, Birgitte
collection INTA Digital
description Intensive lamb fattening systems are evolving in developing Middle Eastern countries due to high demand for lambs at favorable prices; however, little is known about their characteristics and constraints. A survey was conducted in Syria involving 241 farmers to characterize the fattening production systems and main constraints, with emphasis on feeding, management, labor, and marketing. Most farmers (90%) considered the income from fattening to be from medium to high, and 57% expressed that lamb fattening along with alternative income sources compose the family's livelihood strategies. Fattening systems offer employment to family members. Market price was the main decision factor to buy and sell lambs, but this was only part of various marketing aspects. Male lambs usually bought at markets at the mean age of 4 months (mean weight of 31 kg) are sold after fattening at a 50–60 kg weight range. The average yearly fattening cycle was 2.7 batches, and the average number of lambs per batch was 232. For 65% (n = 241) of the farmers the major constraint to fattening was feeding cost, and for about a half of farmers (51%, n = 241), disease outbreaks and prices for veterinarian services constituted the second important constraint. Research on least-cost fattening diets and curbing disease problems to increase farmer's income margins is needed. It is expected that due to existing commonalities, the information emerging from this study regarding major constraints to Awassi lamb fattening systems could be useful for an across-synthesis on Awassi fattening production in the region
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institution Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA -Argentina)
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spelling INTA16792018-08-29T17:57:37Z Characterization of Awassi lamb fattening systems: a Syrian case study Wiedemann Hartwell, Birgitte Iñiguez, Luis Mueller, Joaquin Pablo Wurzinger, María Knaus, W.F. Cordero Alimentación de los Animales Engorde Lambs Animal Feeding Fattening Siria Intensive lamb fattening systems are evolving in developing Middle Eastern countries due to high demand for lambs at favorable prices; however, little is known about their characteristics and constraints. A survey was conducted in Syria involving 241 farmers to characterize the fattening production systems and main constraints, with emphasis on feeding, management, labor, and marketing. Most farmers (90%) considered the income from fattening to be from medium to high, and 57% expressed that lamb fattening along with alternative income sources compose the family's livelihood strategies. Fattening systems offer employment to family members. Market price was the main decision factor to buy and sell lambs, but this was only part of various marketing aspects. Male lambs usually bought at markets at the mean age of 4 months (mean weight of 31 kg) are sold after fattening at a 50–60 kg weight range. The average yearly fattening cycle was 2.7 batches, and the average number of lambs per batch was 232. For 65% (n = 241) of the farmers the major constraint to fattening was feeding cost, and for about a half of farmers (51%, n = 241), disease outbreaks and prices for veterinarian services constituted the second important constraint. Research on least-cost fattening diets and curbing disease problems to increase farmer's income margins is needed. It is expected that due to existing commonalities, the information emerging from this study regarding major constraints to Awassi lamb fattening systems could be useful for an across-synthesis on Awassi fattening production in the region Fil: Wiedemann Hartwell, Birgitte. International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas; Siria. University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences. Department of Sustainable Agricultural Systems. Division of Livestock Sciences; Austria. Fredensborg; Dinamarca Fil: Iñiguez, Luis. International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas; Siria Fil: Mueller, Joaquin Pablo. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche; Argentina Fil: Wurzinger, Maria. University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences. Department of Sustainable Agricultural Systems. Division of Livestock Sciences; Austria Fil: Knaus, W.F. University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences. Department of Sustainable Agricultural Systems. Division of Livestock Sciences; Austria 2017-11-06T14:34:31Z 2017-11-06T14:34:31Z 2010-10 info:ar-repo/semantics/artículo info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/1679 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11250-010-9608-0 0049-4747 (Print) 1573-7438 (Online) https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-010-9608-0 eng info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) application/pdf Tropical Animal Health and Production 42 (7) : 1573–1578 (October 2010)
spellingShingle Cordero
Alimentación de los Animales
Engorde
Lambs
Animal Feeding
Fattening
Siria
Wiedemann Hartwell, Birgitte
Iñiguez, Luis
Mueller, Joaquin Pablo
Wurzinger, María
Knaus, W.F.
Characterization of Awassi lamb fattening systems: a Syrian case study
title Characterization of Awassi lamb fattening systems: a Syrian case study
title_full Characterization of Awassi lamb fattening systems: a Syrian case study
title_fullStr Characterization of Awassi lamb fattening systems: a Syrian case study
title_full_unstemmed Characterization of Awassi lamb fattening systems: a Syrian case study
title_short Characterization of Awassi lamb fattening systems: a Syrian case study
title_sort characterization of awassi lamb fattening systems a syrian case study
topic Cordero
Alimentación de los Animales
Engorde
Lambs
Animal Feeding
Fattening
Siria
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12123/1679
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11250-010-9608-0
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-010-9608-0
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