RESUMENEl objetivo de este estudio fue caracterizar las estrategias de alimentación existentes y las principales fuentes de alimentación utilizadas en dos diferentes sistemas de producción caprina en el altiplano mexicano durante la temporada de seca. Se recolectaron plantas forrajeras importantes en los pastizales, éstas fueron analizadas para conocer su contenido de nutrientes. En encuestas y talleres participativos, los granjeros proporcionaron información sobres sus sistemas de producción. Se recopilaron análisis químicos de 43 plantas forrajeras durante la temporada de seca, estos análisis en su mayoría mostraron escasos contenidos de nutrientes. Algunas leguminosas y compuestas tuvieron un valor razonable de alimentación, pero podrían contener mecanismos de defensa los cuales limitan su uso potencial. Mejorar o incluso mantener la productividad del sistema de producción actual depende fuertemente del mejoramiento de la base nutricional, sobre todo durante la temporada de seca que es cuando las plantas forrajeras escasean. Enfoques recientes, como el cultivo de ciertas plantas forrajeras, las cuales también contribuyen a la reducción de la erosión y la pérdida del suelo, deberían ser desarrollados e implementados. La información proporcionada por los granjeros muestra que los dos sistemas de producción estudiados en el presente artículo difieren: Por una parte, los granjeros se basan principalmente en los métodos agrícolas tradicionales, y por la otra, los granjeros están continuamente en busca de nuevas opciones agrícolas con fuerte apoyo técnico de un proyecto externo.
ABSTRACTThe aim of this study was to characterize existing feeding strategies and main feed sources utilized in two different goat production systems in the Highlands of Mexico during the dry season. Important fodder plants were collected on the rangelands and analyzed for their nutrient content. In interviews and participatory workshops farmers provided background information about their production systems. Chemical analysis of 43 fodder plants, collected during the dry season, showed mostly poor nutrient contents. Some legumes and composites had a reasonable feeding value, but may possess defense mechanisms which limit their potential utilization. Improving or even maintaining the productivity of the current production systems strongly depend on the improvement of the nutritional basis, especially in the dry season when suitable fodder plants are scarce. Recent approaches such as the cultivation of certain fodder crops which also contribute to the reduction of erosion and soil loss should be consequently developed and implemented. The information provided by farmers show that the two production systems studied herein differ: farmers in one study site mostly rely on traditional farming methods, while in the other site farmers continuously search for new farming options with the strong technical support of an external funded project.
Typology of the Swiss Forestry Holding Network
The requirements and policies that affect the results of individual forest enterprises are numerous. To develop functioning management and advisory mechanisms, these individual circumstances should be taken into consideration. However, compliance with all the influencing factors is not feasible in practice, wherefore a reduction in the existing complexity is necessary. Multivariate statistical methods allow to use a variety of indicators as a basis for the formation of different types of forest enterprises. The goal to consider the individual operating conditions as completely as possible can be achieved with a multivariate typology. For the Swiss Forestry Holding Network (HDN), the question arises as to whether the results of such a typology can also be reproduced by the currently used biogeographic classification of forest zones. Sixty-six variables with information about structural properties and the business results of 208 Swiss holdings from the years 2008 to 2010 formed the basis of the study data. These variables were reduced to 19 key variables. With the help of principal component and cluster analyses the holdings were divided into four clusters based on these key variables. They differ from each other significantly in most of the key variables. The results of this multivariate typology can be mapped in part by the forest zones of Switzerland. It should be noted that the variable “forest zone” also acts as a multivariate criterion, reflecting the physical and structural requirements of the enterprises. Combined with certain additional information (e.g. timber growth), the results of the multivariate analysis can be even better understood.
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