Abstract

HERNANDEZ MORALES, Patricia et al. Typification of smallholder dairy systems in the south of the state of Mexico. Universidad y ciencia [online]. 2013, vol.29, n.1, pp.19-31. ISSN 0186-2979.

Milk production in Mexico takes place under heterogeneous conditions, from a technological and socioeconómica! focus, and also responds to the location of the farms. The purpose of this study was to typify the smallholder milk production systems in the Tejupilco municipality in the south of the state of Mexico. Surveys were applied considering productive, social and economic variables to 50 smallholder milk producing farmers. Statistical analyses of the results were performed using a factor analysis and a cluster analysis. Three factors were obtained which explained 67 % of the total variation. The cluster analysis identified four groups of farmers that are different in terms of milk production, size of the plot and number of cows. The economic analysis showed that 60 % of the cost of production is associated with the purchase of concentrated cow feed. The main source of income in the four groups is the sale of milk. It was concluded that group 1 is the most efficient in terms of the use of its resources for production, while groups 2 and 3, despite having more land and animals, are less efficient from an economical point of view.

Keywords : Smallholder dairy systems; milk production; factor analysis; cluster analysis.