The objective of the study was to characterize small-scale dairy production systems to identify the technological preferences according to the farmer and farm characteristics and to analyze the importance and role of the information communication technologies (ICTs) in the dissemination of information related to management and livestock activities. To collect the data, a survey was applied to 170 small-scale dairy farmers from central Mexico. To characterize the farms, a factor analysis (FA) and cluster analysis (CA) were performed. To compare and identify differences between groups, a Kruskal–Wallis test was conducted. Four factors that explain 70.93% of the accumulated variance were identified; these factors explain the use of technology, production characteristics, social connections, and use of ICTs. The cluster analysis identified four groups. Group 1 was integrated by farmers with more experience and the largest farms. Group 2 had higher studies and use of ICTs. Group 3 was formed by young farmers but had a low use of technology. Group 4 contained older farmers with a low use of technology. The young farmers with higher studies have begun to incorporate ICTs into their daily activities on the farm, as observed in Group 2. Smartphones were the most used and were considered important by the farmers of the four groups, since they enable interaction with other farmers and the dissemination of topics of interest related with the farm. In conclusion, four group of farmers were differentiated; therefore, different extension approaches should be implemented to take into account the preferences and the technologies considered most important for each group. The ICTs are emerging technologies among small-scale dairy farmers to communicate information related to livestock management, mainly by young farmers with studies of secondary, as observed in Group 2.

RESUMENEl objetivo fue identificar variables que describen al productor y a la unidad de producción, así como factores cognoscitivos y sociales que influyen en el uso de praderas cultivadas por productores de leche en pequeña escala. La muestra (n=106) se dividió en productores que hacen uso de la innovación (Grupo 1, n= 55) y en productores que no la usan (Grupo 2, n= 51). Los datos se analizaron con la prueba de Mann Withney y la Teoría del Comportamiento Planeado. El uso de praderas cultivadas se vio influenciado por las variables que describen al productor y a la unidad de producción, como se observó en el Grupo 1. Este grupo presentó una mayor proporción de productores (60 %) que indicaron una intención positiva para usar praderas cultivadas, comparado con el 36 % de los productores del Grupo 2. Los productores de ambos grupos percibieron de forma similar la utilidad e importancia del uso de praderas cultivadas; sin embargo, la intención de los productores del Grupo 1 presentó una correlación significativa (P<0.05) con ambas. Otros factores que influyeron en el uso de praderas cultivadas fueron las creencias positivas, referentes sociales y las dificultades percibidas de la innovación. Se concluye que el uso de praderas cultivadas estuvo influenciado por diferentes factores para cada grupo de productores. PALABRAS CLAVE: Teoría del comportamiento planeado (TPB), Praderas cultivadas, Productores de leche. ABSTRACT

<p><strong>Background. </strong>In the rural zones, the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), is a theme that stating to rise, for instance, the use of mobile phone by the small-scale dairy farmers.<strong> Objective. </strong>The aim of the research was  to identify the importance, the information that farmers receive and communicate and the variables influencing the use of the ICT by farmers. <strong>Methodology.</strong> A questionnaire was conducted with 170 farmers, to collect information about farmers’ characteristics, household, farm characteristics, the importance of the ICT, information that farmers receive and communicate through the ICT. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression analysis were conducted to analyse the information. <strong>Results.</strong> Farmers considered the mobile phone as fairly important, since it allowed farmers to communicate and disseminate information related to their farm through calls, messages (SMS) and WhatsApp messages. The main themes that were communicated were: veterinary services, communication between farmers (meetings, water supply to irrigate grasslands and problems on the farm), buying and selling products and government services. The variables that describe farmers’ characteristics, household and farmers’ perception of the importance of the ICT, showed a significant association (<em>P</em>&lt;0.05) with their use. <strong>Implications.</strong> The understanding of the importance of the ICT use, on the small-scale dairy farms context was the main contribution of the research; in addition, some suggestions of communication and dissemination of information have been made to test in the field. <strong>Conclusions. </strong>The ICT were considered to be important for the fast way to communicate and disseminate information between farmers. The variables that describe farmers’ characteristics and household were associated with the use of the ICT. </p>