Dairy and/or Beef Production: Diversity of Cattle Farmers’ Strategies in Gharb Irrigated Area, Northern Morocco

Abstract

One hundred and eleven cattle farmers were investigated in the Sidi Allal Tazi region (Gharb irrigated area, Northwestern Morocco). Data forms were filled out by the farmers to specify cows’ performances and management, and factors associated with cattle production. Multidimensional statistical methods helped identify the variables that contributed to differentiate the animal husbandry types. Five groups of farmers were thus identified using parameters related to farms’ structure (land tenure and number of animals), dairy cattle practices (fodder feed, supplementation) and other types of agricultural activities (sheep breeding, food grain crops, vegetable crops). Two types of farming systems stood out with regard to the intensification of dairy cattle production: the first type consisted of large farms where all production means were mobilized to reach maximum intensification (green forage all year round, high quantities of concentrates). The second type consisted of farms with lower means of production, but when their resources were added to each other, their specialization pointed to dairy production as in the first type. At the opposite, the remaining three types progressively appeared with less intensive dairy strategies, cattle herds assuming in a more and more pronounced way multifunctions: they helped diversify income sources by the use of other types of meat production, produce manure for soil fertility preservation, and provide assets for farmers without bank accounts. This diversity in farmers’ strategies must be taken into account by decision-makers of dairy and even beef production development in Gharb region.