opportunities and challenges for sheep production in the yucatán peninsula: proposal for a baseline...

Opportunities and Opportunities and challenges for sheep challenges for sheep

production in the Yucatán production in the Yucatán Peninsula:Peninsula:

Proposal for a Baseline Proposal for a Baseline StudyStudy

OutlineOutline

Why sheep farming has emergedWhy sheep farming has emerged Natural resource parametersNatural resource parameters Current farming systemsCurrent farming systems Development of Baseline SurveyDevelopment of Baseline Survey

ObservationsObservations Research QuestionsResearch Questions

LocationLocation

BackgroundBackground

Sisal production Sisal production from henequén, the from henequén, the foundation of the foundation of the Yucatán economyYucatán economy

Drop in demand post WWII, Drop in demand post WWII, due to surplus production due to surplus production and synthetic fibresand synthetic fibres


Industry collapse in 1992, after Industry collapse in 1992, after withdrawal of Government subsidieswithdrawal of Government subsidies

““Henequén zone” left without Henequén zone” left without employmentemployment


Hair sheep production has emerged as a Hair sheep production has emerged as a growing industry in the former “Henequén growing industry in the former “Henequén zone”zone”

Adept at conversion of fibrous biomass to meatAdept at conversion of fibrous biomass to meat Excellent fertilityExcellent fertility Low level of entry level capital investmentLow level of entry level capital investment Market in Mexico CityMarket in Mexico City Sheep production represents a significant Sheep production represents a significant

development opportunity, particularly for the development opportunity, particularly for the rural poorrural poor

Natural ResourcesNatural Resources

ClimateClimate

SoilsSoils

VegetationVegetation

ClimateClimate

Tropical sub-humidTropical sub-humid Dry & rainy seasonsDry & rainy seasons Average rainfall Average rainfall

800-1000mm800-1000mm HotHot Rainfall distribution Rainfall distribution

is variable on is variable on peninsulapeninsula

SoilsSoils

Soils formed on Tertiary limestone, flat terrainSoils formed on Tertiary limestone, flat terrain Shallow and stony, limited cultivationShallow and stony, limited cultivation

SoilsSoils

Alkaline, limited in phosphorus, Alkaline, limited in phosphorus, manganese, iron, zincmanganese, iron, zinc

Low water holding capacityLow water holding capacity

Vegetation Vegetation

Vegetation distribution dependent on Vegetation distribution dependent on rainfallrainfall


Low-stature tropical dry forests (dry Low-stature tropical dry forests (dry season) season)

Increasing secondary forests due to Increasing secondary forests due to abandonment of henequen fieldsabandonment of henequen fields


Dominated by leguminosaeDominated by leguminosae


Conversion of forest to grassland in the Southern Conversion of forest to grassland in the Southern and Eastern regions of Yucatan Stateand Eastern regions of Yucatan State

Farming SystemsFarming Systems

Traditional agriculture (Milpa)Traditional agriculture (Milpa) Home GardensHome Gardens PlantationsPlantations LivestockLivestock

MilpaMilpa Maize mixed with squash and beansMaize mixed with squash and beans Slash and burn, 0.5 to 2.5 haSlash and burn, 0.5 to 2.5 ha 2-3 year cultivation, with 10-20 year fallow2-3 year cultivation, with 10-20 year fallow Weeds and pests controlled manuallyWeeds and pests controlled manually

Characteristics of the Characteristics of the SurveySurvey

June & July 2004June & July 2004 Sheep producers and non sheep Sheep producers and non sheep

producersproducers Random sampleRandom sample Beta-test on initial farmsBeta-test on initial farms 5 study objectives5 study objectives

Study ObjectivesStudy Objectives

Status of production systemsStatus of production systems Evaluation of dietary potentials with Evaluation of dietary potentials with

relation to sheep nutritionrelation to sheep nutrition Production potentials of existing Production potentials of existing

animalsanimals Infrastructure and equipmentInfrastructure and equipment Information and technology transferInformation and technology transfer

Observations Observations Research QuestionsResearch Questions

1 - Status of production systems:1 - Status of production systems:ObservationsObservations

SmallholdersSmallholders Limited resourcesLimited resources Utilize natural Utilize natural

vegetationvegetation Larger producersLarger producers

2 main sheep production systems:2 main sheep production systems:

1 - Status of production systems:1 - Status of production systems:ObservationsObservations

SmallholdersSmallholders

Larger producersLarger producers Rely more on Rely more on

planted forages planted forages and/or supplementsand/or supplements

2 main sheep production systems:2 main sheep production systems:

1 - Status of production systems:1 - Status of production systems:Research QuestionsResearch Questions

What are the components of smallholder What are the components of smallholder household incomes? household incomes?

What are the defining characteristics of the two What are the defining characteristics of the two main sheep production systems? main sheep production systems?

Are there two main and distinct production Are there two main and distinct production systems able to be demarcated? systems able to be demarcated?

What are typical characteristics of the producer What are typical characteristics of the producer households in both production systems?households in both production systems?

How is the available land utilized within How is the available land utilized within production systems?production systems?

2 - Evaluation of dietary potentials 2 - Evaluation of dietary potentials with relation to sheep nutrition: with relation to sheep nutrition:

ObservationsObservations Feeding sheep during dry seasonFeeding sheep during dry season

2 - Evaluation of dietary potentials 2 - Evaluation of dietary potentials with relation to sheep nutrition: with relation to sheep nutrition:

ObservationsObservations Crop residues e.g. Maize, citrusCrop residues e.g. Maize, citrus Need for protein supplementationNeed for protein supplementation Under-utilization of tree legumesUnder-utilization of tree legumes

2 - Evaluation of dietary 2 - Evaluation of dietary potentials with relation to sheep potentials with relation to sheep

nutrition:nutrition:Research QuestionsResearch Questions

How is available land used?How is available land used? How do soil nutritional characteristics vary between How do soil nutritional characteristics vary between

farm and land use?farm and land use? Upon what principles are stock movements based?Upon what principles are stock movements based? How long do animals spend grazing per day?How long do animals spend grazing per day? What species of forages are planted, and in what What species of forages are planted, and in what

quantities?quantities? What agronomic practices are used for management of What agronomic practices are used for management of

forages?forages? Which tree species are recognised as valuable browse Which tree species are recognised as valuable browse

plants and utilized by farmers?plants and utilized by farmers? What are the nutritional qualities of the available What are the nutritional qualities of the available

forages and browse species?forages and browse species? What supplements are used, and at what rates for the What supplements are used, and at what rates for the

different classes of stock?different classes of stock? What degree of integration is there between livestock What degree of integration is there between livestock

and cropping?and cropping?

3 - Production potentials of 3 - Production potentials of existing animals: existing animals: ObservationsObservations

Common breeds include Pelibuey, Dorper, Common breeds include Pelibuey, Dorper, Blackbelly, CatadínBlackbelly, Catadín

All developed for hardiness, fertilityAll developed for hardiness, fertility

3 - Production potentials of 3 - Production potentials of existing animals: existing animals: ObservationsObservations

Dorpers the “new fashion”Dorpers the “new fashion” Dorper and crosses appear more common Dorper and crosses appear more common

with larger producerswith larger producers

3 - Production potentials of 3 - Production potentials of existing animals: existing animals: Research Research

QuestionsQuestions How does flock composition vary in terms of How does flock composition vary in terms of

numbers, breeds and classes of animal?numbers, breeds and classes of animal? How do producers divide their animals into How do producers divide their animals into

management groups?management groups? What constraints may influence this decision?What constraints may influence this decision? What are producers’ breeding objectives, What are producers’ breeding objectives,

including desired breed composition and animal including desired breed composition and animal selection criteria?selection criteria?

What quantities of animals are being sold, to What quantities of animals are being sold, to what markets, and for what price?what markets, and for what price?

What are the reproductive dataWhat are the reproductive data What are the most important animal health What are the most important animal health

issues and what veterinary products are used?issues and what veterinary products are used?

4 - Infrastructure and equipment:4 - Infrastructure and equipment: ObservationsObservations

Some Government Some Government investment in investment in infrastructureinfrastructure

Appears limiting for Appears limiting for smallholderssmallholders

Lack of fences and Lack of fences and watering facilitieswatering facilities

Labour a substitute for Labour a substitute for infrastructureinfrastructure

Difficulty in Difficulty in maintaining maintaining management groupsmanagement groups

4 - Infrastructure and equipment:4 - Infrastructure and equipment: ObservationsObservations

Potential for irrigationPotential for irrigation

4 - Infrastructure and equipment:4 - Infrastructure and equipment:Research QuestionsResearch Questions

What infrastructure is available and what is lacking?What infrastructure is available and what is lacking? How does ownership of infrastructure vary between How does ownership of infrastructure vary between

producers and production systems?producers and production systems? How has investment in infrastructure been funded?How has investment in infrastructure been funded? What is the status of internal and external fencing?What is the status of internal and external fencing? What is the degree of subdivision of the holding pens?What is the degree of subdivision of the holding pens? Is the level of infrastructure, such as fencing and Is the level of infrastructure, such as fencing and

holding pens, limiting the appropriate formation of holding pens, limiting the appropriate formation of management groups?management groups?

What type of irrigation equipment is currently used?What type of irrigation equipment is currently used?

5 - Information and technology 5 - Information and technology transfer:transfer:

ObservationsObservations

““Coffee shop” Coffee shop” extensionextension

Doesn’t appear to be Doesn’t appear to be many extension many extension programmes in placeprogrammes in place

Probably favour larger Probably favour larger producers who producers who actively seek actively seek informationinformation

5 - Information and technology 5 - Information and technology transfer:transfer:

Research QuestionsResearch Questions How frequently are producers receiving technical How frequently are producers receiving technical

assistance?assistance? Which organizations are providing technical Which organizations are providing technical

assistance?assistance? What other sources are farmers getting What other sources are farmers getting

information from?information from? What is the typical price for technical assistance?What is the typical price for technical assistance? What type of information is being provided, and What type of information is being provided, and

what information is desired by producers?what information is desired by producers? What is the level of penetration of livestock What is the level of penetration of livestock

associations and producer groups? associations and producer groups?

ConclusionsConclusions

Some limitations may seem obvious…Some limitations may seem obvious… However limitations interactHowever limitations interact Need systems solution for a systems Need systems solution for a systems

problemproblem Baseline surveyBaseline survey

Influence research directionsInfluence research directions Generate additional questionsGenerate additional questions

Growing interest in sheep farmingGrowing interest in sheep farming

opportunities and challenges for sheep production in the yucatán peninsula: proposal for a baseline...

Documents

peninsula slide

hot hot rainfall distribution

capacity slide

location slide

employment slide

limited cultivation

baseline study slide

rural poor slide