Abstract

HERNANDEZ VALENZUELA, Daniel; SANCHEZ VERA, Ernesto; GOMEZ DEMETRIO, William  and  MARTINEZ GARCIA, Carlos Galdino. Productive and socioeconomic characterization of a sheep production system in a natural protected area in Mexico. Rev. mex. de cienc. pecuarias [online]. 2019, vol.10, n.4, pp.951-965.  Epub Apr 30, 2020. ISSN 2448-6698.  https://doi.org/10.22319/rmcp.v10i4.4470.

Natural protected areas experience pressure from increased human presence and productive activities. Agricultural, socioeconomic and grazing resource use data were used to characterize a sheep production system in the Nevado de Toluca Flora and Fauna Protection Area, Mexico. Based on sheep producer (n= 162) interviews, 25 variables were analyzed with multivariate and univariate statistics. A principal components analysis identified six factors explaining 71 % of variance. A cluster analysis identified three groups of producers [small (28 %), intermediate (35 %) and capitalized (6%)] differentiated by the number of animals, cultivated area and income (P<0.05). Overall, lamb mortality was generally high (23 %), forage oats (Avena sativa) were planted on 50 % of cultivated area, and maize (Zea mays) on variable percentages. Head of household age and schooling did not differ between groups (P>0.05), and sheep were found to contribute less than 30 % to household income. Rotational grazing in the forest was used by 58 % of producers, but 60 % used a semi-stabling approach. The Nevada de Toluca sheep production system does not depend on producer capitalization, but sheep are essential to the family economy. Management practices are compatible with conservation efforts in the natural protected area.

Keywords : Small ruminants; rotational grazing; Nevado de Toluca; Natural resources; Silvopastoral systems.

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