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Agroecological typification of livestock production systems in the ecuadorian amazon region

Abstract:

In the last decades, the cattle ranching has had an enormous growth in the Ecuadorian Amazon, which has been translated in an increase of deforestation and of the agricultural frontier with negative consequences on the ecosystem. This study consisted in the categorization of livestock systems in Amazonian conditions as a basis for the elaboration of a proposal for agroecological management of livestock production units (LPU) in the province of Pastaza, Ecuador. Forty-five (45) production units were selected and for its classification, the structured survey was used to determine the indicators. The multivariate techniques of principal component swere carried out, selecting those eigen values greater than unity as the parameters of greater weight that served to establish the proposal. Four components were obtained that explained 64% of the total variance, these were: the area under pasture, the distribution of the herd, number of milking cows, milk production, number of calves, heifers and dry cows. These parameters determine the efficiency of the production units. It is shown that the livestock production units in the Ecuadorian Amazon are inefficient and contribute to the increase of the agricultural frontier and deforestation, affecting the ecosystem. As agroecological management alternatives, emphasis is placed on the implementation of agrosilvopastoral systems, protein banks, association of pastures with legumes, incorporation of autochthonous breeds, in combination with good farming and livestock practices.