Abstract

LARIOS-SARABIA, Neon et al. Technical, social and economic characterization of companies in the registered jersey cattle herd in México. agric. soc. desarro [online]. 2011, vol.8, n.2, pp.229-247. ISSN 1870-5472.

In México, there are no studies whose purpose has been characterizing the production units with registered cattle herds. These studies are important because they allow designing successful genetic improvement programs and the transfer of their results to commercial producers. The objective of this study was to characterize registered Jersey herds in México. A questionnaire was applied to all of the members of the Asociación Mexicana de Criadores de Ganado Jersey de Registro, and descriptive statistics were obtained. The registered Jersey cattle population in México is small (approximately 4000 animals), it is distributed primarily in the central area of the country, and most of the herds (85%) have a recent origin (since 1995). Selection in the herds is scarce, activities for genetic improvement are focused on identifying the animals and collecting productive records; therefore, genetic progress is primarily through semen and animal imports, generating technical and economic dependency on other countries. In spite of having national genetic evaluations of the animals, their commercialization by farmers is not the main activity, which is why the transfer of outstanding genetic material to commercial producers is scarce. The installed capacity in animals, lands, and infrastructure and equipment is sufficient to implement genetic improvement programs. Jersey cattle producers have in average 15 years of schooling and 24 in cattle-raising.

Keywords : registered cattle breeders; genetic improvement; milk production.