The Alternative Livestock and Sustainability of Farmers in Mexico

Abstract

Farming in Mexico for more than 12 years ago suffers stagnation due to the high costs of inputs to production, this added to global climate change has led to high mortality of animals (more than 3 million animals), and disease, on the other hand, the establishment of livestock basins in areas not conducive proof of this we have livestock since 2004-13 has grown only 0.4%, dairy cattle population decreased from 2004-13 -6.8 % and meat production increased in the same period by 1.7%. In rural and peri-urban traditional farming focuses on raising cattle, pigs, sheep and goats, mainly; these activities have been developed since the Spaniards brought the rst animals to America. For years in many areas are implementing a livestock system, known as alternative livestock and that it relates in part to the introduction of Bubalus bubalis or water buffalo, this animal has been very attractive for its adaptive pro tability. These same areas are ooded during the rainy season, hampering the development of traditional farming, where the average annual rainfall is estimated between 2850-3200 mm / year, average high temperatures between 32-37°С, with moisture 89.2±3.2%; besides high prevalence parasitic (ecto- and endoparasites) and the inability of many species of ruminants and pseudorumiants in feeding diseases since the lowlands are ooded. The aim of this study was to determine the physiological adaptive features of Bubalus bubalis, in areas where other animals of economic importance cannot be reared; Today its population is estimated at over 65,000 animals in 9 states of the country, for this study a population of 5,000 animals Bubalus bubalis where fertility ranged from 86.4 to 92.5%, was used milk production is estimated at 6.24 ± 0.35 liters daily, with average weight gain of 24.7 ± 2.7 kilos per month, but there is a high prevalence of parasites such as: Coccidiosis (91.2%), Schistosomiasis (72.9%), Fascioliasis (52.1%). Metabolic pro les are mostly kept within normal parameters, making animals with high resistance to diseases and high productive and reproductive capacity in these tropical and subtropical regions of Mexico.