Those members involved in the first stage of fattening. They could get a loan of LE 600 per head with a maximum amount of LE 10,000.

2. Active members

Those members involved in the second stage of fattening. They could get a loan of LE 1,000 per head with a maximum amount of LE 120,000.

The loan was raised to LE 600,000 for Companies & Co-operatives. Lately in 1997, 10% of the loan was directed towards buffalo milking producers. The interest rate of the loan is 6.5% per year. The loan is managed by a Board of Trustees. Members of the board represent Ministry of Agriculture, CIB (the managing Bank), EBPA, PBDAC (Principal Bank for Development and Agriculture Credit).

TheAssociation's plan for the next stage:

As a result of the associations efforts in the past seven seasons and their success in encouraging breeders in fattening their buffalos and not slaughter them at small weights. And the care of the association to take care of the females which is the main source of calves and milk production.

- small, medium, large farms and the flying herd in milk production to be recorded and to follow-up its production of milk and place a feeding plan to be followed. This work will be a start for an ambitious recording plan to reach the book herd of the Lactating Dairy cattle .

The work will be as :

1. Spreading the awareness for breeders in the investment in Buffalo Dairy Operation.

2. Spreading the awareness to use the Artificial Insemination aiming for genetic improvement to increase milk production.

3. Establishing centers for the collection of milk using cooling tanks.

The following stage requires more cooperation in a different way with the aim:

1. Holding a monthly (every two-month) training session in the main office of the Association to be attended by 30 breeders. The topics to be discussed during this sessions:

a) New techniques in feeding female buffalos during their different stages.

b) Spreading veterinarian awareness.

c) Practices in management of handling small farms (20 - 50 heads), medium (up to 100 heads) and ways to deal with daily problems.

d) Economic Milk production methods and methods in calculating costs, profit & loss.

In addition to the one-day or more training session in an ideal specialized farm for the implementation of the theoretical cases practically.

2. Choosing three farms in 3 governorates to be ideal farms and inform all association members of them to follow up new technologies and De Laval Company to participate in it.

The goals of the Association are :

Offer all kinds of knowledge to all farmers who work in the field of buffalo fattening by : training sessions , siminars , leeflets,etc .

Helping the members to get their needs of management , vet. & nutrition services , marketing , etc .

Genetic improvement for buffalo females .

WHO ARE THE MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION :

There are two kinds of members :

This maximum raised to 600000 LE for the companies and the co-operatives . Lately in 1997 , 10 % of the loan to be used for buffalo milking producers .

The interest rate of the loan is 6.5 % per year . The loan is manage by Board of trustees .

Active members 1600