SAN DIEGO, CALIF., July 21, 2009 – Before 1992, 700,000 male water buffalo calves were harvested in Egypt before weaning. Nearly 600,000 male cattle calves were harvested at 600 pounds instead of a more ideal weight of 1,000 pounds. There was a lack of information available to Egyptian livestock producers regarding effectively and efficiently feeding buffalo and cattle, according to Dr. Saad Al Hayani, founder and chairman of the Egyptian Buffalo Producers' Association.

"The large part of the problem was due to the primitive structure of the industry. Producers had closed systems in small buildings rather than open feedlots like you see in the United States. The quality of feed was very poor, labor was intensive, and the mortality rate was very high," said Al Hayani, who spoke today to approximately 300 agriculturalists at the U.S. Grains Council's 49th Annual Board of Delegates Meeting in San Diego, Calif. "In 1992, the Council stepped forward and identified financial resources and technology as two major problems with Egypt's ruminant sector. They didn't just identify problems, they stormed in and presented solid solutions and established trust with our industry."

Al Hayani said the Council formed the Egyptian Cattlemen's Bank in partnership with a reliable bank in Egypt. They did so in order to provide credit for Egyptian buffalo and cattle producers to feed their livestock to 1,000 pounds to provide a more reliable and affordable supply of red meat for Egyptian consumers. USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service also provided funding in cooperation with the Council. Soon after the establishment of the Cattlemen's Bank, the Council worked with Egypt's ruminant sector to form the Egyptian Buffalo Producers' Association to facilitate the funds and move the industry forward.

"With the funds we received from this project, we were able to establish open feedlot systems like you see in the United States. This has enhanced the feed ingredients fed to these animals, reduced labor costs, lowered mortality and increased profit margins for producers. Trust me, lives were improved. We now have 400 modern feedlots with 500 to 2,000 head in each one," said Al Hayani. "This is a success for the Council, U.S. growers, Egyptian farmers and even consumers."

He said 70 percent of the ruminant industry is still primitive and there is much work left to do in terms of development. Al Hayani compares the training the Council provides to Egyptian end-users to a baseball game.

"Watching baseball on the television is so boring. Going to the game and sitting there, I learned so much. That is what the Council does. They provide hands-on training to our industry representatives. They see it, they use it, they succeed."