Classification, characterisation and strategies for improvement of cattle and sheep pasture systems in marginal areas of Southern Chile

Abstract

Pasture-based livestock systems in farms with medium or low size are especially important in less favored areas and are valuable for society. For these systems to survive, it is necessary to obtain an acceptable level of productivity and ensure commercialization of the products. This study was carried out in the district of Rio Ibáñez, General Carrera Province, in the XI (Aysén) Region of Chile. The sample consisted of 28 small-scale livestock farmers with dualpurpose cattle production; 16 of them also produced sheep for meat. The empirical data produced 55 variables which were subjected to multivariate analysis; three main components were obtained which explain 72.1 % of the variance. By cluster analysis it was obtained four groups with characteristics which varied by farm size, age and personal situation of farmers, farm management and farm profitability. The principal problems found are low productivity in the herds and the poor marketing channels of animals produced. In two groups, due to the low size and poor management, the profitability of the farms is very low and this may compromise their future. To improve production systems, the training and advice of farmers should be strengthened, investment should be supported, especially for young people, and the farmer partnership should be promoted. There is also a need to diversify the families' sources of income (sale of other farm products or handicrafts and touristic activities).

Assessment of the Sustainability of Extensive Livestock Farms on the Common Grasslands of the Natural Park Sierra de Grazalema

“…In this regard, Escribano et al [42], studying beef cattle in protected agroforestry systems, pointed out that the least productive farms are the most extensive ones. However, in other systems, like those with cattle and sheep farms in marginal areas of southern Chile, where the system is based on grazing, the largest farms have the highest level of productivity [43]. Nevertheless, according to Mena et al [5], on extensive farms it is possible to obtain a satisfactory level of productivity and profitability while minimizing the amount of feed purchased.…”

Sustainability Assessment of Extensive Cattle and Sheep Production Systems in Southern Chile

“…The present study was carried out in the Río Ibáñez district, Aysén Region, Chile (48°16′00″S, 71°56′00″W) (Avilez et al, 2018. The study region is cold steppe, with an average temperature 6.4 ºC and precipitation of 612 mm; less than 50% of the rain falls during the period of greatest pasture growth, which goes from September to April (Dirección Meteorológica de Chile, 2020).…”

“…Profitability of this type of production can be enhanced through highvalue niche markets (Toro-Mujica et al, 2019). However, although extensive livestock systems generally have a better environmental behaviour than intensive systems, their profitability is quite low (Bernués et al, 2011(Bernués et al, , 2018Tessema et al, 2014;Niamir-Fuller, 2016), particularly in small farms (Avilez et al, 2018). Extensive farms are frequently meat-aptitude, but they can also be double-aptitude (meat/wool or meat/milk), and one of the main causes of their low profitability is that weaned rather than fattened animals are produced.…”

“…This is common worldwide because fattening management only exists in areas and seasons that guarantee sufficient pasture quality and availability, which means it might not apply to drier regions or areas where pastures are scarce or not available (Bernués et al, 2011;Horcada-Ibáñez et al, 2016). At a global scale, the most widely used intensive production system is intensive calf fattening (feedlots) Aguilar et al, 2014;Avilez et al, 2018). Meat produced from grazing animals is based on rustic breeds with lower productivity compared to intensive systems, while meat quality does not satisfy the requirements of the industry (Bedoin and Kristensen, 2013).…”

“…Strong seasonality of forage production forces producers to supplement animals with alfalfa or red clover hay, and wheat straw (Toro-Mujica et al, 2019). An earlier study conducted by Avilez et al (2018) characterized extensive, grazing-based cattle and sheep production systems in marginal areas of southern Chile. These systems present medium-low use of external resources, which favors sustainability.…”