Typology of family livestock production systems in the Pampa biome using the MESMIS method

Abstract

Livestock farming plays a significant role in Rio Grande do Sul state. The current global dynamics of grain appreciation have triggered the advance of agricultural production, especially soybean, over the gaucho Pampa biome. These changes determine the path of production system sustainability; however, it remains unclear how sustainable these production systems are. A typology of 90 family livestock production systems in the Pampa biome was performed as a function of sustainability using the MESMIS method and cluster analysis. The production systems were grouped into three different groups: SPPF, least sustainable, with a higher percentage of crops in the systems, more soybean crops, lower share of income from livestock production, and less native field area. SPPF more sustainable, presented greater sustainability, with smaller crop areas in relation to the total area, more native field in the systems, a more standardized herd, greater crop diversification, and a higher level of formal education and producer participation. SPPF intermediary presented higher productivity then the least sustainable SPPF, self-sufficiency equal to that of the other groups, and similar results to SPPF least sustainable for the other attributes (p < 0.05).