Thesis (Ph.D.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Agriculture - Department of Animal Production

The main objective of the study was to monitor the current and future climate changes and to evaluate their effects on milk yield of Holstein cattle in the Delta of Egypt. This thesis includes two studies, the first was conducted to evaluate the effect of current climate changes on milk yield. Data of test-day milk yield (TDMY) comprised 109759 records, were collected from four herds (5546 Holstein cows). The four herds represented different parts of the Delta region: west of the Delta (Dina farm, included two h erds, H1 and H2), east (Sami Asaad farm, H3) and middle of Delta (El-Karada farm, H4). Meteorological data (monthly air temperature and relative humidity) throughout the period from 2000 to 2014, and their expected corresponding values in the two years 2025 and 2050 were obtained from the Central Laboratory for Agricultural Climate. Analysis of meteorological data revealed a significant increase in temperature- humidity index (THI) values, and confirmed a marked change in climate starting the year 2011. So, the study period (2000-2014) was devided into two periods: the first was with almost a constant value of THI (2000-2011), and the second with a higher value (2012- 2014). All the factors (Herd, Parity, THI, Period and all interactions among factors ) showed a highly significant effect (P<0.0001) on TDMY. Test-day milk yield decreased (P<0.05) when THI was >74. Test-day milk yield, also decreased (P<0.05) in the second period. Test- day milk yield was 24.2 and 22.8kg for the first and second period, respectively. This d

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