Algunos problemas y oportunidades de los sistemas bovinos de producción de leche en el trópico húmedo de baja altitud

Abstract

There are more than 3,000,000 milk producers in Latin America and the Caribbean. An important number of them unfolds in the humid tropical conditions on the thermal floor close to sea level altitude and share many of the problems common to all systems, such as: inappropriate relationships between managers and primary producers, lack of stimuli and exodus to the cities, increasing deterioration of the environment, high dimensionality, inadequate preparation of managers, limited view, technological indiscipline communication, technological and financial shortages, among other particular problems. The characteristics of the cattle breeders mostly affected by unsustainability are high ambiental temperatures combined with relative humidities above 70%, low level of protein in pasture vegetation, low use of leguminous shrubs and trees and a reduced availability of dry matter during the less rainy season. Currently a wealth of information on experiences, methodologies and technologies are available to combat effectively these problems. The best way to protect themselve is by training, support from the cattle society, access to adequate information on how to exploit in an effective and sustainable way resources such as races, vegetation, water, soil resources, etc. Additionally, farmers should apply the most suitable grazing method, foresee in the most appropriate food supplements, include the multifunctional use of tree planting, be knowledgeable about cattle breeding and genetics, try to apply a holistic management of the farm, and foresees in analytical monitoring, as to strengthen and secure competitiveness and economic rentability.