Contribution of dung beetles to cattle productivity in the tropics: A stochastic-dynamic modeling approach

The aim of the study was deepening the knowledge of livestock innovations knowledge on small-scale farms in developing countries. First, we developed a methodology focused on identifying potential appropriate livestock innovations for smallholders and grouped them in innovation areas, defined as a set of well-organized practices with a business purpose. Finally, a process management program (PMP) was evaluated according to the livestock innovation level and viability of the small-scale farms. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the impact of PMP on the economic viability of the farm. Information from 1650 small-scale livestock farms in Mexico was collected and the innovations were grouped in five innovation areas: A1. Management, A2. Feeding, A3. Genetic, A4. Reproduction and A5. Animal Health. The resulting innovation level in the system was low at 45.7% and heterogeneous among areas. This study shows the usefulness of the methodology described and confirms that implementing a PMP allows improving the viability an additional 21%, due to a better integration of processes, resulting in more efficient management.

https://www.mdpi.com/1999-5903/8/2/25/pdf

A Methodological Approach to Evaluate Livestock Innovations on Small-Scale Farms in Developing Countries

Mixed crop-livestock farms are widely spread in different tropical regions in the world; they contribute to food security, rural development, sustainability and poverty alleviation. The effect of scale on performance of dual purpose (DP) cattle farms was evaluated in two Mexican ecological zones: dry (DT) and wet tropics (WT). In 2011, a questionnaire of 184 items distributed into technical and social characteristics was applied to a representative sample of 3,285 farms with 50 or less cows (0.97%). The farms were classified into three groups according to their dimension: very small (1-9 cows), small (10-19 cows) and medium (20-50 cows). A general linear model (GLM) with two factors and their interactions was applied. Significant effects in dimension and ecological zone were found as well as seven interactions between both factors ( p <0.05). Native pastures were used in all farms for grazing. However, small farms’ herds frequently grazed on cultivated pastures and on crop residues ( p <0.05). Medium farms showed the highest grazing surface, but in the WT silage and green fodder were used while in the DT dry fodders were used ( p <0.001). The interactions between factors showed a bigger specialization in milk production in DT farms, whereas WT farms were more specialized in meat production. The mixed crop-livestock system in tropic region requires an increase in herd size according to farm’s own productive structure, which is strongly influenced by the ecological zone. The systems would improve with the active participation of smallholders to identify and achieve best practices, higher technological adoption level and with an effective support from public and private Institutions.

https://dialnet.unirioja.es/descarga/articulo/6334809.pdf

Is the increase of scale in the tropics a pathway to smallholders? Dimension and ecological zone effect on the mixed crop-livestock farms

The low technology adoption rate is one of the major problems in very small dual-purpose cattle farms in Mexico. Using the social network analysis approach, we characterized the farmer leaders in the innovation network and deepened the knowledge on the low technological adoption causes. The sample consisted of 383 very small farms of dual-purpose cattle characterized by using nine reproductive management technologies. Our findings suggested that the network position of farmers had a significant impact on the technological level. Hence, the farmers farthest from the technology leaders showed the lowest levels of betweenness centrality index and high rates of constraint. Apart from this, advice, productive orientation, and intensification were also differentiating elements at the technological level. The findings provided relevant insights and useful tools to policy makers to better support, coordinate and enhance the adoption of innovation among smallholders.

Usefulness of Network Analysis to Characterize Technology Leaders in Small Dual-Purpose Cattle Farms in Mexico

A sample of 5.3% of cattle dual purpose systems located at Machiques of Perija Municipality, was taken trough a stratified random sampling with proportional affixation, in order to analyzed farmers management functions and to characterize previously classified management groups by technology, productive and economic results. Management indicators allowed to construct a Management Index and to classify into groups. Results showed that 35% of the farmers didn’t plan, 57% delegated responsabilities, 21% did not have employed selection criteria and a 32% did not carry on any type of productive or economical records, among other managerial activities. Values of mainly management index components were higher in the high management group, except for direction and evaluation functions. The media management group showed the best value of gross margin by hectare (349,339.37 Bs/ha), associated to the lowest level of concentrated food used for animal supplementation. This decision was accompanied by a used of other animal nutritional options, which allowed to obtain the best annual milk and meat production (964.29 L/vaca in milking; 699,40 l/ha and 212.82 Kg/ha) of all managerial groups. It was concluded that sensible knots to be improved in managerial process, requires an average fulfillment of all the management functions to obtain acceptable values of gross margin, associated with technological decisions referred to animal feeding combined strategies that originated the best productive and economic results.

Management and Technology in Cattle Dual Purpose Systems (Taurus-Indicus)

The objective of this study was to identify which type of dual-purpose cattle (DP) producers are in to make the development of livestock in the municipality ...

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Dynamics of development of dual purpose cattle in las choapas, veracruz, mexico

a Colegio de Postgraduados, Campus Veracruz. Programa en Agroecosistemas Tropicales. Km. 84.5 Carretera Xalapa-Veracruz. Predio Tepetates, Mpio. Manlio Fabio Altamirano, Veracruz. C.P. 91690. pablod@colpos.mx, vickyna79@hotmail.com, jpmartin@colpos.mx . b Colegio de Postgraduados, Campus Montecillo. Programa en Ganaderia. Km. 36.5 Carretera Mexico-Texcoco. Montecillo. Edo. de Mexico. C.P. 56230. *Email: jvilaboa@colpos.mx *Corresponding author

Dinámica del desarrollo de la ganadería doble propósito en las choapas, veracruz, méxico (dynamics of development of dual purpose cattle in las choapas, veracruz, mexico)

Virginia Oros-Noyola

Papers

Dynamics of development of dual purpose cattle in las choapas, veracruz, mexico

Dinámica del desarrollo de la ganadería doble propósito en las choapas, veracruz, méxico (dynamics of development of dual purpose cattle in las choapas, veracruz, mexico)