The study purposes were to assess farms performance, describe socioeconomic profile, and create a farming system typology of dairy farms in Mostaganem province, Algeria. From January 2020 to March 2021, a survey of 56 dairy herds was conducted to evaluate general management and production in farms. Farmers were randomly selected and data was collected using face-to-face surveys. The majority of farmers had no training in dairy farming, 57% of them were over 45 years. Farmers had on average 11.44 dairy cows, with Holsteins being the most common breed. The average agricultural land used was 5.49 ±10.95 ha, while forage area averaged 0.6 ±1.42 ha. As a result, fewer farmers (21%) were able to provide their own feed. The mean daily milk yield per cow was 18.19 ±3.43 litres. Nearly 89% of farmers allowed a voluntary waiting period of 76.6 ±26.73 days, and the mean calving interval was 14.76 ±1.29 months. Cows were bred through natural mating, and Oestrus detection was done occasionally without the use of heat detectors. Only 16% of farms maintained a herd control program with a veterinarian. In total, 41% of farmers sold calves aged between 1 to 2 years. The typology of surveyed farms indicated four clusters; big farms with substantial number of cattle; small farms with high cow population; small farms with high milk yield and medium-sized farms. Our research uncovered various flaws in the dairy farming systems in the assessed region that require a strategy to address in order to improve the dairy industry.
"Experientia docet" - Experience is the best teacher