Characterization and typology of sheep and goat production systems in the State of Paraíba, a semi-arid region of northeastern Brazil

Abstract

Breeding of goats and sheep is an important activity in northeast Brazil, contributing to economic and social development of this region. Thus, the objective of this study was to characterize goat and sheep rearing and breeding in the central-western region of the State of Paraíba, northeast Brazil. The study area included Borborema and mesoregions of the backlands of the state, represented by 127 municipalities in an area of 38.293 km 2 , with density of goats and sheep at 12.9 and 8.27 head/km 2 , respectively. A total of 62 farms belonging to five municipalities of the Borborema mesoregion and four municipalities of the Sertão mesoregion were surveyed. Epidemiological surveys were conducted in the farms, and questionnaires sought information on the economic, productive, and social aspects of the farm owners and the farms. The results allowed the classification of goat and sheep production systems in the semi-arid Paraíba as a family system and of subsistence, for farmers' own consumption and for local trade, with low technology use and herds with up to 100 animals. The farmers' level of education was low, and the investments and technical assistance for the development of breeding activity in the region were insufficient and/or inadequate. Thus, it was essential to conduct an economic study on the farms to assess the actual economic and financial status of breeding activity and the subsequent returns. It is suggested that these aspects be taken into account when planning livestock development policies, especially in terms of finance and technical assistance, as well as in the implementation of strategies to control commonly occurring diseases in the region, aimed at combating agents, environmental control, and protection of susceptible livestock. , respectivamente. No total foram visitadas 62 propriedades pertencentes a cinco municípios da Mesorregião da Borborema e quatro da Mesorregião do Sertão. Nas propriedades foram aplicados questionários epidemiológicos, os quais buscavam informações sobre aspectos econômicos, produtivos e sociais dos proprietários/propriedades. Os resultados obtidos permitem classificar o sistema de produção de caprinos e ovinos no semiárido paraibano como familiar e de subsistência, para consumo doméstico e comércio local, com baixo uso de tecnologia e rebanhos com até 100 animais. O nível de escolaridade dos criadores foi considerado baixo, bem como os investimentos e assistência técnica insuficientes e/ou inadequados para o desenvolvimento da atividade na região. Dessa forma, um estudo econômico nas propriedades para conhecimento da real situação econômico-financeira da atividade e o retorno que as mesmas poderão proporcionar a partir da sua organização se torna necessário. Sugere-se que tais aspectos sejam levados em consideração quanto ao planejamento de políticas de desenvolvimento pecuário, especialmente quando relacionados a financiamento e assistência técnica, bem como na implementação de ações no controle das doenças mais frequentes na região, direcionadas ao combate...

Characterization of goat production systems in five states of northeastern Brazil

“…The interpretation favors an environment conducive to the training of labor, assimilation of new technologies, and improvements in the economic aptitude of goat farming. However, according to Guilherme et al (2017), although high school education-level producers are more receptive towards training programs, this condition should be carefully evaluated as the quality of public education in the Brazilian inland cities is limited. The PI and CE states also showed a higher frequency of interviewees with a higher education levelabove 29 % -whereas SE, RN, and PB exhibited a lower secondary education level.…”

Characterization of caseous lymphadenitis in caprine animals slaughtered in a semi-arid region of Brazil

“…The semi-intensive breeding system (GUILHERME et al, 2017;TEIXEIRA et al, 2015) is the most common in the region due to long drought periods and may have contributed to greater levels of contact and proximity between infected and susceptible species. Protein and/or energy supplementation forces goats to be closer to one another to share food and water, supplied in troughs, which may be contaminated by purulent lymph node/fistulated abscess content.…”

“…According to Farias et al (2014), the species Capra hircus easily adapts to the climatic conditions of this area, a characteristic that makes the Northeast the largest producer in Brazil, with 7.660.715 goats, which is approximately 93% of the national herd (8.254.561) (IBGE, 2018). Although these are impressive numbers, production is considered low due to factors such as long periods of droughts, lack of technical information, farmers with low educational levels, and sanitary and hygienic management problems that lead to the emergence, maintenance, and dissemination of infectious diseases, ultimately decreasing the meat, milk, or leather quality (GUILHERME et al, 2017;RODRIGUES et al, 2016;TEIXEIRA et al, 2015).…”

“…One of these contagious infectious diseases is caseous lymphadenitis (CL), which is caused by the aerobic non-sporulating Gram-positive bacterium Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, a facultative intracellular macrophage parasite (GUILHERME et al, 2017;OREIBY, 2015;RODRIGUES et al, 2016;TEIXEIRA et al, 2015;WINDSOR;BUSH, 2016). This bacterium releases an exotoxin known as phospholipase D (PLD), which is the main virulence factor that increases vascular permeability and causes inflammation with subsequent necrosis (WINDSOR, 2014).…”

Seroprevalence of caseous lymphadenitis in goats sold in an animal fair in the northeastern semi-arid region of Brazil

“…They acquire species such as goats, sheep, and cattle from the region's owners through purchase and keep them confined in small spaces until the time of sale. This breeding system presents peculiarities such as intensive breeding, in contrast to the extensive and semi-intensive systems that are generally practiced by most of the owners of the Brazilian Northeast (GUILHERME et al, 2017). It should be emphasized that intensive breeding is a determinant condition for high CL prevalence due to the confinement of animals in a small space, particularly when there is inadequate control of the disease in such spaces (SOUZA et al, 2011).…”