La Ganaderia En America Latina

Author : Libardo Rivas Ríos
Publisher : CIAT
ISBN 13 : 8489206317
Total Pages : 105 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (892 download)

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Download or read book Potencial de producción de carne vacuna en América Latina written by Libardo Rivas Ríos and published by CIAT. This book was released on 1983 with total page 105 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The present study is the result of a collaborative effort between the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) - Regional Office for Latin America (RLAT) - and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT). The objetives of this case study are to analyze the historical development of the cattle industry in Latin America: describe beef productivity, production, consumption, and demand; and estimate, in terms of production, the potential impact of new pasture technology on marginal lands of the Latin American tropics. Based on the experience of other countries, where improved pasture technology has been available, the process, applied policies, and results of adoption of the technology are discussed. The main statement of this study is that a feasible means of closing the foreseen gap between potential demand and supply is to increase supply through technological change. Thus the technical parameters of livestock activities can be improved, enhancig the incorporation into production of large areas of marginal lands. Latin America has almost 1000 million ha of acid, infertile lands, most of them Oxisols and Ultisols. Since animal nutrition has been identified as the main constraint to livestock production on these soils, international organizations and national research agencies are dedicating efforts to improve pasture production technology for these marginal lands. These efforts have borne the first fruits with the launching of the grass Andropogon gayanus (CIAT 621) by the Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuaria (EMBRAPA) in Brazil, under the name of Planaltina, and by the Instituto Colombiano Agropecuario (ICA) in Colombia, under the name of Carimagua l. The fist part of the study explores the approximate levels of livestock technical parameters in Brazil and Colombia using a simulation model (GENINVEN). It is shown that low, constant parameters over time are consistent with slaughter levels historically observed in both countries. The second part estimates the gaps between actual production and potential demand in Brazil, Colombia and Chile. It is concluded that if production continues stagnant, prices will rice sharply in the year 2000 due to the increase in potential demand. Rising trends in real consumer prices have already been observed in Brazil; Colombia, and Venezuela. The third part analyzes the possible impact of technological change if applied to the Cerrados of Brazil, the Llanos Orientales of Colombia, and Paraguay. Toward the year 2000, techNological change would reduce theoretical deficit in Brazil by 28% if per capita real income growth is 4%; 37% if income growth 10 and 22%, depending on income growth. It is expected that the impact of technological change will depend to a great extent on present livestock inventory in these marginal regions. This potential impact would be greater in Brazil than in Colombia since 37% of the Brazilian inventory is found in Cerrados, while in Colombia only 10% of the inventory is in the Llanos Orientales. The fourth and last part discusses profitability of improved techNology as an important variable in the adoption process. The case of Uruguay is presented. Different policies applied are discussed, as well as the development and results of the adoption process. It is concluded that support to both research in and diffusion of improved technology should be given high priority. Strong collaborative national programs result in economies of scale in research. The success of the improved technology will depend to a great extent on the physical and marketing infrastructure, particularly in the more marginal lands of the Land American tropics. Producers selling policies will greatly affect technological change and long-term consumption. Such selling policies will likely be determined by the income level and stability of the new technology, which are direct results of the individual country goverment's priorities and policies for prices and livestock cycles.