Abstract

GARCIA-MARTINEZ, Anastacio; ALBARRAN-PORTILLO, Benito  and  AVILES-NOVA, Francisca. Dynamics and trends in dual purpose cattle management in southern Estado de México. Agrociencia [online]. 2015, vol.49, n.2, pp.125-139. ISSN 2521-9766.

The southwest of the Estado de México is a cattle region and has the largest cattle inventory in production units (PU) oriented to dual purpose (DP). Information for this study was obtained from 78 PU selected by probability sampling and analyzed according to three groups: extensive (UPDPE), traditionalist (UPDPT) and semi-intensive (UPDPSI). The objective was to evaluate the dynamics, understood as changes or innovations over time (ex-ante and ex-post), the objectives and the opinions of cattle producers on the socioeconomic environment in which they develop and decision making in PUs, using the Likert Scale. There were significant changes in land use and a greater tendency to grazing, increase of the herd size, environmental care and importance of the cattle producers decision-making. The differential livestock management is highlighted as result of decisions taken by cattle producers on strategic points that determine the adaptability of the UP to the socioeconomic environment in which they develop.

Keywords : Production unit; bovines; dynamics; trend; dual purpose; dry tropics.