Moroccans visit North Texas to learn about dairy feedyard

By LORI COPE | East Texas Edition

Cutline: Dr. Mark Quinn (standing, right) shares ideas about gaining customer confidence to the four visiting dairy specialists from Morocco. -- Staff photo by Cope

April 1, 2004 -- It's not every day a group of Moroccans walk through a North Texas dairy cow feedyard, but in mid-March, the occasion was an educational event that brought together some of Texas' best-known dairy business specialists and four men from Morocco.

Moroccans Abdelmounaim Elmokhtar, Abdelaziz Hait, Lhoussane Bouzlt, and Hassan Abousir are traveling in Texas to expand their knowledge of the many aspects of dairy production -- from raising calves to breeding heifers. They each have a speciality in dairy-related fields: one is an Extension engineer, another earned a master's degree in animal science, one is a veterinary assistant, and the other is an artificial insemination technician. The four are part of an agricultural cooperative, COPAG, based in Morocco that will try and unite the country's 9,000 dairy producers who collectively have 30,000 head of dairy cattle, according to Elmokhtar.

On March 15 and 16, the men visited Stoney Point AgriCorp, a unique operation located between Blue Ridge and Melissa in Collin County. The operation, co-owned by Dr. Mark Quinn and Clark Willingham, specializes in growing dairy replacement heifers under contract from dairies as well as for re-sale, yet they also feed out Holstein steers under contract for packers. The heifers are brought to the feedyard at about 300 pounds and are kept until they are bred. Other unique aspect to the operation is they utilize "returned" milk from grocery stores and grains from breweries in their feed program. Manure generated at the feedyard is used to grow turf grass in partnership with a company that specializes in that business.

The U.S. Grains Council and COPAG are building a similar dairy operation in Morocco. The Moroccans were visiting Texas, and Stoney Point, to gain first-hand knowledge, and also hear presentations from experts such as Dr. Ellen Jordan, Extension dairy specialist, John George, a consultant with Agricultural Engineering Associates, and Stoney Point's Quinn, a businessman and veterinarian.

Abousir explained there is a lack of quality dairy cow replacements in Morocco. They import dairy cattle from the United States, Germany, France, and a few other countries. But because of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) cases, Morocco has halted imports of cattle.

"We want to learn what Mark (Quinn) does in his work (at Stoney Point)," Elmokhtar explained.

"We have no experience in this ... and this (educational tour) will help us," Abousir added.

On March 15, the tour included time at Quinn's home to hear herd health management details from Jordan. The discussion included tips on dealing with retained placentas, breeding heifers, and vaccinating for disease. The Moroccans noted they do not vaccinate their cattle, and they have no disease problems.

In the afternoon, Quinn outlined how his feedyard is managed, including detailed instructions on how to care for thousands of cattle in one location. He also discussed how to approach potential customers. "He (dairy calf owner) is placing his future in your hands ... and he has to believe you can do it more economically," he pointed out.

"I am impressed with their level of knowledge and their commitment to this program," Quinn said after spending time with the men.

George, who has been to Morocco to start the initial phase of the program, talked to the visitors on March 16. Construction of the facility is under way, and hopes are to be able to start stocking in three to five months, he said.

Initially, the program will be in Phase One, which will include about 3,000 head of cattle -- starting with young animals, including day-old baby calves.

George, an engineering consultant, said the program will go through several transitions. The baby calves will be raised together, then at age 2 months (known as "young stock") they will be divided into 60 or 70 pens. Then at 6 months of age, they will be segregated by sex. Heifers will be bred when appropriate and kept until springing; and bulls will be sold for meat at around 16 months of age.

George said the facility in Morocco sits on the space equivalent to "a little over two acres."

Phase Two of the Moroccan project will increase the head count to 7,000 or 8,000, according to George, who has consulted on the building of over 400 facilities in 40 states and some foreign countries. His company also does environmental work and research for facilities.

A statement from the U.S. Grains Council noted the goal of the project is to "prepare these COPAG personnel for the management responsibilities that they will have to assume once this feedlot construction is completed, and the feedlot begins operations."