Typification, characterization, and differentiation of sheep production systems in the Brazilian semiarid region

Abstract

The complexity of livestock production systems implies the interrelation of physical, technical, social, environmental, and animal factors. This study aimed (i) to classify and characterize farms in representative typologies and (ii) to point out the main factors responsible for the differences between the sheep farm typologies in Brazilian semiarid region. A structured questionnaire with 29 variables related to social, physical, livestock, technological, herd management, and productive indicators was applied to 65 sheep farmers. The farms typology was classified, characterized, and differentiated using several techniques of multivariate analysis. Three sheep production systems were identified: Emerging (16 farms): young adults farmers, medium farms and herds, intensive management, intermediate technological level, and high meat production; Conventional (40 farms): adult farmers, smallholder farms, small herds, low technological level, and low meat production; and traditional (09 farms): mature farmers, large farms and herds, extensive management, low technological level, and high meat production. Social, physical, livestock, herd management, technological, and productive factors showed discriminatory power (P < 0.05) to differentiate typologies. The family-based productive system still represents the primary sheep production system. Sheep farming in the Brazilian semiarid region is characterized as extensive, heavily dependent on natural resources, and susceptible to seasonal variations. Some common characteristics among the farms studied were the use of family labour and the predominance of extensive breeding with low stocking density. The emerging system is expanding and may represent the future of sheep farms. It is believed that the traditional system can intensify its management and migrate to the emerging system in the future. It is recommended to direct public policies that encourage the efficient succession of workers in sheep farming, adoption of technologies,

Bioclimatic Zoning for Sheep Farming through Geostatistical Modeling in the State of Pernambuco, Brazil

“…Because of the differences in sheep production systems in the NEB semiarid region [ 18 ], it is difficult to know precisely the number of flocks of each breed present in the region. McManus et al [ 19 ] showed that hair sheep are more often raised in smaller flocks in more stressful regions of the Northeast and Midwest.…”

“…In addition, the same study showed the prevalence of the breeds Morada Nova, Rabo Largo, and Cariri in Pernambuco state, east of the NEB (ENEB). However, the breeding of sheep in the Brazilian semiarid region is characterized as traditional family farming, and it is very common to use the Santa Inês breed to increase the meat and milk production of the locally adapted breeds [ 18 , 20 ].…”