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Feeding Systems with Legumes to Intensify Dairy Farms - cgiar

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of pathogenic bacteria, and many others remain alive thus affecting cheese<br />

quality (De Franco et al., 1996).<br />

Therefore it is not possible <strong>to</strong> make cheese of acceptable quality <strong>with</strong><br />

this type of milk, a situation determined by the sanitary conditions during<br />

milking and the handling of milk until it reaches the cheese fac<strong>to</strong>ries. Most<br />

milk producers in Honduras and Nicaragua do not have milking sheds or<br />

clean, running water. Milking is carried out in open corrals, by hand, using<br />

open buckets and surrounded by sludge. Milk cans are washed <strong>with</strong> any<br />

type of common detergent and chlorine is not always used <strong>to</strong> disinfect them<br />

(De Franco et al., 1996).<br />

The milk produced under these conditions during the dry season is of<br />

higher quality because there is no excess humidity in the corrals, the udders<br />

of cows are cleaner, and the transportation time <strong>to</strong> the rural cheese fac<strong>to</strong>ries<br />

is shortened because roads are in better conditions (García, 1996).<br />

As a result of these changes in supply and quality, it is more attractive<br />

<strong>to</strong> produce higher volumes of milk during the dry season because it benefits<br />

the producer, who receives a higher price, as well as the artisan cheese<br />

fac<strong>to</strong>ries, that receive milk of better quality.<br />

Objective<br />

This study aimed <strong>to</strong> analyze the milk market of small-scale artisan<br />

cheese fac<strong>to</strong>ries located in the lives<strong>to</strong>ck production areas of Honduras and<br />

Nicaragua where the Tropileche Consortium operates. The study aimed <strong>to</strong><br />

answer the following questions:<br />

• Is there a market for additional milk production? If so, how much milk<br />

can be absorbed by artisan cheese fac<strong>to</strong>ries each season?<br />

• Is there a market for milk of higher hygienic quality and, if so, would<br />

the farmgate price be higher? What price would the cheese fac<strong>to</strong>ries be<br />

willing <strong>to</strong> pay?<br />

Materials and Methods<br />

The data for this study was obtained through surveys carried out<br />

during March 2000 <strong>to</strong> 10 small-scale artisan cheese fac<strong>to</strong>ries in Honduras<br />

and 13 in Nicaragua. These cheese fac<strong>to</strong>ries were located in the area of<br />

influence of the Tropileche Consortium: Olancho, Catacamas, and Juticalpa<br />

in Honduras, and in Esquipulas and Muy-Muy in Nicaragua. Secondary<br />

information from both countries was used <strong>to</strong> complement survey data.<br />

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