Resumen de A typology for classifying beef cattle – producing farms in Buenos Aires province of Argentina
Ana T. Costas, Nidia Nora Abbiatti, Ana M. Pereyra
Beef cattle production systems in Argentina are based on direct grazing. There are complex grazing subsystems within the beef cattle production systems that need to be differentiated in order to guide appropriate technological changes. The purpose of this work was to identify a livestock farm (LF) typology; to relate the resulting typology with land use characteristics, beef production activities and geographical location; and to propose indicators to facilitate characterization of the LF with information as to whether feed resources are self-produced or obtained from secondary sources. The analysis included 1 252 LF of Buenos Aires Province. Data of the National Agricultural Survey of 1999 were used to construct the variables regarding cattle requirements and resource production. The multivariance analysis used allowed: (a) general characterization of the LF, (b) creation of a typology, and (c) description of groups and comparisons among them. Three technical levels were identified with regard to feeding systems LF that supplement with selfproduced resources, LF that use grazing on improved pastures, and LF that rely on natural grassland grazing. Use of the land was mainly mixed (livestock and agriculture) in LF of the first two types and exclusively livestock in the third. The beef cattle production activity that prevailed in the first type of LF was the complete cycle (brood cows, calves, replacement females, growing steers, and fattening animals), while in the third type it was cow-calf operations with or without rearing. The indicator that best allowed distinguishing among the three types of LF was Net Index of Forage Production, while the indicator Self-produced Supplements allowed separation of the type with highest technical level. Use of both indicators is recommended for future classifications. In all three identified groups more knowledge is needed regarding production dynamics and quality of natural grasses, cultivated pastures, and conserved forages in order to properly adjust the stocking rate and optimize yield and efficiency of forage utilization.
