Caracterización de la producción lechera en fincas con el sistema de pastoreo al sogueo en el cantón Biblián, provincia del Cañar - Ecuador

Abstract

This research was conducted in the canton of Biblián with the objective of characterizing dairy production and determining the productive and reproductive parameters of cattle farms managed with the tethering grazing system. The research approach was a cross-sectional descriptive study. A sample of 99 cattle farms or Agricultural Production Units (UPAs) was selected, distributed evenly among the four rural parishes and one urban parish of the canton, according to the UPA population. An observation visit and survey were conducted at each farm to obtain the required information. The results regarding the general characteristics of a tethered dairy farm in the canton of Biblián indicate an average size of 4.27 hectares, with a stocking rate of 2.86 adult units/hectare (AU/Ha); the predominant genetic group is mixed breed (50%) and Holstein (40%). Manual milking is practiced by 95.95% of the farms, with 57.57% milking with the calf at foot. The average rope length used for large animals is 3.59 m, while for small animals it averages 2.39 m. Regarding dietary supplementation, 85.85% supplement with balanced concentrate and 90.9% with mineral salts. Productive parameters determined include an average production of 9.98 liters/cow/day and 13.64 liters/hectare/day, with a weaning age of 4.36 months; a low general mortality rate of 2.11% was found. The most commonly used reproductive method is natural mating at 46.24%, followed by artificial insemination at 31.18%, and 22.58% use a combination of natural mating and artificial insemination. Reproductive parameters found were: pregnancy rate 67.55%, birth rate 79.4%, age at first calving 29 months, calving interval 411 days, open days 128 days, and abortion rate 5.25%