Decision Support Decision Support of Ruminant Livestock Systems of Ruminant Livestock Systems

in the Gulf Region of Mexicoin the Gulf Region of Mexico

Cornell University Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán Universidad Veracruzana INIFAP, Campo Experimental “La Posta”, Veracruz

What is our TIES What is our TIES collaborative project? Who collaborative project? Who

are the players?are the players?AnSc 640, TIES SeminarAnSc 640, TIES Seminar

31 August 200531 August 2005

Robert Blake and Guillermo Ríos

Project objectives (Area of focus: rural development)

(initiated June 2004)

Support a research platform with emphasis on

agricultural and environmental management

aimed at improving net economic returns and

livestock competitiveness.

Complementary objective

Widespread dissemination of research results to producers and other interested parties

Implementation of educational activities

Short courses Training and exchanges Postgraduate programs

Focus Herd nutritional and environmental

management for meat production beef mutton

Information from rapid appraisals

June-August 2004: 63 farms with sheep surveyed in five Yucatan locations.

Primary objective: evaluate the limitations and opportunities in this sector.

October-December 2004: 60 farms with beef cattle surveyed in eastern and southern Yucatan

Data coding and analysis: Initial coding and data sets complete for sheep survey

Data available for thesis proyects. Two Cornell students (from Australia, Japan) will use them in contributions toour TIES project.

Two Mexican students began MS programs at Cornell,

August 2005

Luis Nabté: Yucatán

Victor Absalón: Veracruz

Total number of students on the

TIES research platform

7 UADY: 3 Ph. D., 3 MS, 1 BS

4 Cornell: 1 Ph. D., 3 MS

Program of short courses, 2004-05

September: “Evaluación nutricional de forrajes en la Región del Golfo”

October: “Uso de un modelo computacional para el manejo nutricional de bovinos y ovinos”

November: “Análisis bioeconómico de alternativas tecnológicas y la dinámica de sistemas agropecuarios”

February: “Evaluación del potencial para progreso genético en poblaciones de ganado rumiante en la Región del Golfo”

Short course objectives Agree on priority research themes

(>175 classroom hours given)(>175 classroom hours given)

Disseminate information through Internet site and other avenues Forage Nutrition Bio-economic

management evaluación

… Genetic mgt… system dynamics (SD) 5o: AplicaciAplicación de ón de la DS la DS al Entorno…al Entorno…

Agree on priority research themes (>175 classroom hours given)(>175 classroom hours given)

Disseminate information through Internet site and other avenues Forage Nutrition Bio-economic

management evaluación

… Genetic mgt… system dynamics (SD) 5o: AplicaciAplicación de ón de la DS la DS al Entorno…al Entorno…

55◦◦ Curso ENLACES Curso ENLACES

AplicaciAplicación de la Dinámica de Sistemaón de la Dinámica de Sistemassal Entorno Agropecuario en la Región del Golfo de Méxicoal Entorno Agropecuario en la Región del Golfo de México

Númerode ovinosTasa neta de

nacimientos

+

Tasa deventas

+ I nventario,carne deborregoTasa de

sacrificio

Rendimiento decanal

++

Precio,carne deborrego

Ventas,carne deborrego

Retraso demadurez

-

Ganancias alproductor

Precio poranimal

Costos decommercialización

-+

++

Recursosalimenticios

localesProducción dealimentos

Consumo dealimento

Alimento disponsiblepor animal

+

+

+

-

Área deterreno

Alimento porunidad terreno

Precipitaciónrelativa

+

+

+

Consumo poranimal

+

+

I ntervenciónAUT

+

I ntervención desalud

+

-

Sensibilidad deventas al precio

-

Specific objectives Specific objectives of 5of 5thth shortshort coursecourse

Understand basic concepts of SD and modeling using this method.

Demostrate the usefulness of this method... 

Capstone exercize: review a conceptual modelof sheep systems derived from our rapid appraisal.

Begin to specify thesis (research) topics Build a collaborative research team:

UV-INIFAP-Cornell (and with UADY).

Principal activities, 2005-06Principal activities, 2005-06 Disseminate information (e. g., Internet)

Short courses (e.g., presentations, literature) Research platform Joint teaching platform Implement a new SD course at UV (and UADY)

Support these platforms with study leaves at Cornell: Profesors/researchers from UADY, UV and INIFAP Doctoral students from UADY, (PIFOP-CONACyT

funding) Provide a core program of joint courses

TIES seminar: research and training collaborations 3 courses on agricultural systems with livestock,….

2 with field laboratories in the Gulf Region

UADY co-directorsUADY co-directors

Guillermo Ríos Arjona

Juan Ku Vera

Needs of Yucatan cattle producers

Farmers assertively identified a series of urgent problems to be resolved:

Greater contact, more research and better information flow (results) needed between UADY and farmers

Training courses needed for farmers in their communities:

Needs of Yucatan cattle producers

(2)

Themes identified: Technical-productive (e.g., pasture

management, feeding, dry-season strategies)

Production costs (integration strategies)

Product marketing (e.g., meat price, importation limitations and problems)

Benefits to UADY from courses and diagnostics

These tools have helped define problems affecting farmers.

The primary feedback is to opt for adjustments that would make more agile

its structure and its operation

to become more effective in problem solving.

Other benefits

Novel opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students.

Thesis projects based on these themes

and problems.

Greater opportunity for obtaining project funding federal/state (projects) for the training of professionals.

¡¡GraciasGracias!!

(en Maya)(en Maya) … Yum bo’otik … Yum bo’otik