There are few reports on dual-purpose cattle systems characterization in Latin America and Colombia based on large datasets. This limits our understanding of their dynamics, and the establishment of public policies and government programs to improve their productive performance, promotion and rural development. This study aimed to characterize very small, small, medium, and large dual-purpose farms in Colombia from technical and environmental perspectives. The data analysed were obtained from the Ganadería Colombiana Sostenible and the LivestockPlus projects, which gathered information from a total of 1313 dual-purpose farms in Colombia. Farms were classified as being either very small (1 to 30 bovines), small (31 to 50 bovines), medium (51 to 250 bovines), or large farms (more than 251 bovines). Numerical and categorical variables were distributed into five components: (1) General Farm Information, (2) Herd Composition and Management, (3) Pasture Management, (4) Production Information, and (5) Environmental Information. Each component was analysed using the factorial analysis of mixed data (FAMD) method. According to FAMD, for the components General Farm Information, Herd Composition and Management, Pasture Management, and Production Information, the distribution of variables led to a spatial separation of the centroid from each category of producers. For the component Environmental Information, there was no separation of the centroid. In general, medium-sized and large farms showed better infrastructure, better machinery and equipment, and better reproductive practices; however, this was not reflected in a significant improvement of productive parameters, except for a lower mortality rate. Larger livestock producers need to plan their livestock husbandry activities properly, based on their better available infrastructure and livestock management practices, with the purpose of increasing productivity. The main features identified for each livestock producer category can be the basis to guide and establish policies and programmes for their technological development. The development of better livestock management practices and the implementation of technology, as well as technical assistance, should focus on small- and medium-sized livestock producers, which could lead to reaching a better productive and reproductive performance of dual-purpose systems.

No abstract

No abstract

In Colombia, cattle-fattening farms account for 20.7% of the Colombian cattle herd and play an important role in terms of economic and social benefits for rural communities. However, few characterization studies have been conducted on these production systems, which limit our understanding of their production dynamics and environmental impacts. This study aimed to characterize very small, small, medium, and large cattle-fattening farms from technical and environmental perspectives. The data analyzed were obtained from the Ganadería Colombiana Sostenible and the LivestockPlus projects, which gathered information from a total of 2618 farms, classified according to their cattle production orientation. From those, 275 cattle-fattening farms were classified as being either very small (1–30 bovines), small (31–50 bovines), medium (51–250 bovines), or large farms (more than 251 bovines). Numerical and categorical variables were distributed into five components: (1) general farm information, (2) composition and management of the herd, (3) pasture management, (4) production information, and (5) environmental information. Each component was analyzed using the factorial analysis of mixed data (FAMD) method. According to FAMD, for the components general farm information, herd composition and management, pasture management, and production information, distribution of variables led to a spatial separation of the centroid from each category of producers. For the component environmental information, there was no separation of the centroid. Better infrastructure, machinery and equipment, better pasture management, and better productive parameters and practices were observed in larger farms. This suggests that those public policies aimed at improving productive and environmental performance of the livestock sector should give priority to small- and medium-sized livestock producers considering their farm characteristics.

No abstract

En Colombia, la cría bovina representa el 15% del inventario ganadero, siendo un eslabón importante en la cadena de producción de carne. La carencia de estudios de caracterización limita la adecuada planificación técnica y ambiental de esta actividad. El objetivo de este estudio fue caracterizar los parámetros técnicos y ambientales de fincas de cría con doble utilización de la vaca, pertenecientes a muy pequeños (MPG), pequeños (PG), medianos (MG) y grandes productores (GG). La información se obtuvo de los proyectos Ganadería Colombiana Sostenible y Livestock – Plus. La muestra total fue de 2618 fincas, que fueron clasificadas de acuerdo con su orientación productiva: cría, ceba, doble propósito, lechería especializada e integral. Las 251 fincas de cría se estratificaron en MPG (1 a 30 bovinos), PG (31 a 50), MG (51 a 250) y GG (más de 251). Se consideraron variables numéricas y categóricas, las cuales fueron clasificadas en cinco componentes: información general, composición y manejo del hato, manejo de potreros, información productiva y reproductiva e información ambiental. Cada componente se analizó mediante un Análisis Factorial para Datos Mixtos (AFDM). En los primeros cuatro componentes, las variables conllevaron a una separación espacial del centroide de cada categoría de productores. Los MG y GG estuvieron asociados con variables que indicaron la existencia de mejor infraestructura, maquinarias y equipos, y mejores prácticas y parámetros reproductivos y productivos. No existieron diferencias en el desarrollo de prácticas ambientales. Las características identificadas pueden servir para el establecimiento de políticas públicas de desarrollo tecnológico y gestión ambiental.

No abstract

Cattle farming is responsible for about 15% of Colombian greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE). In Cundinamarca Department, specialized dairy farms located in the high tropics contribute to 14% of national milk production, and 94% correspond to small-scale producers. Therefore, mitigation strategies for dairy farms are needed to achieve the national GHGE reduction targets. This study aims to quantify the carbon footprint (CF), through of a Life Cycle Assessment methodology, of 82 specialized dairy farms at the farm gate in 3 regions of Cundinamarca: Center Savanna, West Savanna, and Ubate Valley; and identify the contribution of Acacia decurrens, Sambucus peruviana, and Baccharis latifolia on milk production increases and GHGE mitigation potential. The GHGE were calculated with the 2019 Refinement to 2006 IPCC guidelines and impact factors from databases. The functional units corresponded to one kg fat and protein corrected milk (FPCM) and one kg live weight gain, in a cradle-to-farm-gate approach. For the 3 regions, the enteric fermentation and manure left in pastures corresponded to the primary sources of on-farm GHGE, and the manufacturing of feed was the main off-farm source. Milk CFs ranged between 1.5 and 2.2 kgCO2-eq kgFPCM− 1. Incorporating Acacia decurrens, Sambucus peruviana, and Baccharis latifolia in cattle diets resulted in a reduction of CF by 13–26% and increased milk yields by 19–37% across the three regions. These findings provide evidence of GHGE mitigation and increased milk productivity through the inclusion of locally available feedstuffs in specialized dairy systems in the high tropics of Cundinamarca.