Abstract

SALINAS GONZALEZ, Homero et al. Participatory evaluation of goat technologies in semiarid north central Mexico. Rev. Chapingo ser. cienc. for. ambient [online]. 2011, vol.17, n.spe, pp.225-234. ISSN 2007-4018.  https://doi.org/10.5154/r.rchscfa.2010.11.106.

The goat is located in fragile ecosystems. In order to evaluate the effect of applied technologies in a participatory manner, within a framework of conservation of natural resources, on the productivity of small ruminants, six technologies were tested: 1) deferred-rotation grazing system (DRGS) achieved 60 % vegetation cover compared to 35 % for continuous grazing (CG); 996.5 vs. 280.8 kg·ha^-1 of dry matter (P<0.01) and botanical composition of 59 species vs. 27 in DRGS and CG, respectively; 2) of 200 filter dams built, up to 212 t of soil sediment was captured in 25.5-m-wide dams; 3) reseeding with Amarilla Olorosa (fragrant yellow) prickly pear cactus had a 90.7 % survival rate; 4) sowing of barley achieved yields (MS) similar to corn but with higher crude protein; 5) supplementation of goat does and kids (0-5 months) with nutritional blocks increased live weight (P<0.001) in double birth kids (71.9 g·day^-1) compared to unsupplemented double and single kids (46.5 g·day^-1 and 40.7 g·day^-1, respectively); 6) goat and cow's milk cheeses did not differ (P<0.05) in measured attributes, achieving the participation of women. The participatory systems approach enabled designing appropriate activities, increasing productivity and promoting conservation of natural resources.

Keywords : Production systems; participatory research; technology; gende.