Practices consistency in dairy farms of the dry Andes: analysis in a Peruvian peasants community

摘要

TheexistingAndeandairyproductionpatternsarescarcelyknownandyettheyplayamajorroleinthehouseholdfoodsecurityofmanyfamilies.Thisstudyexaminestheconsistencyofforagemanagementthroughthemonitoringof8dairyfarmersofacommunitylivingintheharshconditionsofthedryPeruvianAndesandtheanalysisoftheirproductionpractices.TheSintofarmersareabletoproducemilkthroughouttheyeardespitetheverydryclimaticconditionsbyadjustingcattlegroups,grazingrotationalyonirrigatedalfalfafields,farminglargerangelandszonesandexchangingstandingforagewithotherfarmers.nbsp;Althoughthemilkproductionpercowislow,themilkyieldperhectareofalfalfafieldisrelativelyhigh.Thiscanbeinterpretedbothasanoptimisationofthesystemwithregardstotherestrictivefactorwhichistheirrigatedlandandasariskmanagement,twocomponentsthatmaybeconsideredtoevaluatethesustainabilityoftheselivestockfarmingsystemsandtoproposedevelopmentoptions.