Opportunities and challenges for sheep production in the Yucatán Peninsula:

1. Opportunities and challenges for sheep production in the Yucatán Peninsula: Proposal for a Baseline Study

2. Outline • Why sheep farming has emerged • Natural resource parameters • Current farming systems • Development of Baseline Survey • Observations • Research Questions

3. Location

4. Location

5. Background • Sisal production from henequén, the foundation of the Yucatán economy • Drop in demand post WWII, due to surplus production and synthetic fibres

6. Background • Industry collapse in 1992, after withdrawal of Government subsidies • “Henequén zone” left without employment

8. Background • Hair sheep production has emerged as a growing industry in the former “Henequén zone” • Adept at conversion of fibrous biomass to meat • Excellent fertility • Low level of entry level capital investment • Market in Mexico City • Sheep production represents a significant development opportunity, particularly for the rural poor

9. Natural Resources • Climate • Soils • Vegetation

10. Climate • Tropical sub-humid • Dry & rainy seasons • Average rainfall 800-1000mm • Hot • Rainfall distribution is variable on peninsula

11. Climate • Tropical sub-humid • Dry & rainy seasons • Average rainfall 800-1000mm • Hot • Rainfall distribution is variable on peninsula

12. Climate • Tropical sub-humid • Dry & rainy seasons • Average rainfall 800-1000mm • Hot • Rainfall distribution is variable on peninsula

13. Climate • Tropical sub-humid • Dry & rainy seasons • Average rainfall 800-1000mm • Hot • Rainfall distribution is variable on peninsula

14. Soils • Soils formed on Tertiary limestone, flat terrain • Shallow and stony, limited cultivation

15. Soils • Alkaline, limited in phosphorus, manganese, iron, zinc • Low water holding capacity

16. Vegetation • Vegetation distribution dependent on rainfall

17. Vegetation • Low-stature tropical dry forests (dry season) • Increasing secondary forests due to abandonment of henequen fields

18. Vegetation • Dominated by leguminosae

19. Vegetation • Conversion of forest to grassland in the Southern and Eastern regions of Yucatan State

21. Farming Systems • Traditional agriculture (Milpa) • Home Gardens • Plantations • Livestock

22. Milpa • Maize mixed with squash and beans • Slash and burn, 0.5 to 2.5 ha • 2-3 year cultivation, with 10-20 year fallow • Weeds and pests controlled manually

23. Characteristics of the Survey • June & July 2004 • Sheep producers and non sheep producers • Random sample • Beta-test on initial farms • 5 study objectives

24. Study Objectives • Status of production systems • Evaluation of dietary potentials with relation to sheep nutrition • Production potentials of existing animals • Infrastructure and equipment • Information and technology transfer • Observations • Research Questions

25. 1 - Status of production systems:Observations • 2 main sheep production systems: • Smallholders • Limited resources • Utilize natural vegetation • Larger producers

26. 1 - Status of production systems:Observations • 2 main sheep production systems: • Smallholders • Larger producers • Rely more on planted forages and/or supplements

27. 1 - Status of production systems:Research Questions • What are the components of smallholder household incomes? • What are the defining characteristics of the two main sheep production systems? • Are there two main and distinct production systems able to be demarcated? • What are typical characteristics of the producer households in both production systems? • How is the available land utilized within production systems?

28. 2 - Evaluation of dietary potentials with relation to sheep nutrition: Observations • Feeding sheep during dry season

29. 2 - Evaluation of dietary potentials with relation to sheep nutrition: Observations • Crop residues e.g. Maize, citrus • Need for protein supplementation • Under-utilization of tree legumes

30. 2 - Evaluation of dietary potentials with relation to sheep nutrition:Research Questions • How is available land used? • How do soil nutritional characteristics vary between farm and land use? • Upon what principles are stock movements based? • How long do animals spend grazing per day? • What species of forages are planted, and in what quantities? • What agronomic practices are used for management of forages? • Which tree species are recognised as valuable browse plants and utilized by farmers? • What are the nutritional qualities of the available forages and browse species? • What supplements are used, and at what rates for the different classes of stock? • What degree of integration is there between livestock and cropping?

31. 3 - Production potentials of existing animals: Observations • Common breeds include Pelibuey, Dorper, Blackbelly, Catadín • All developed for hardiness, fertility

32. 3 - Production potentials of existing animals: Observations • Dorpers the “new fashion” • Dorper and crosses appear more common with larger producers

33. 3 - Production potentials of existing animals: Research Questions • How does flock composition vary in terms of numbers, breeds and classes of animal? • How do producers divide their animals into management groups? • What constraints may influence this decision? • What are producers’ breeding objectives, including desired breed composition and animal selection criteria? • What quantities of animals are being sold, to what markets, and for what price? • What are the reproductive data • What are the most important animal health issues and what veterinary products are used?

34. 4 - Infrastructure and equipment:Observations • Some Government investment in infrastructure • Appears limiting for smallholders • Lack of fences and watering facilities • Labour a substitute for infrastructure • Difficulty in maintaining management groups

35. 4 - Infrastructure and equipment:Observations • Potential for irrigation

36. 4 - Infrastructure and equipment:Research Questions • What infrastructure is available and what is lacking? • How does ownership of infrastructure vary between producers and production systems? • How has investment in infrastructure been funded? • What is the status of internal and external fencing? • What is the degree of subdivision of the holding pens? • Is the level of infrastructure, such as fencing and holding pens, limiting the appropriate formation of management groups? • What type of irrigation equipment is currently used?

37. 5 - Information and technology transfer:Observations • “Coffee shop” extension • Doesn’t appear to be many extension programmes in place • Probably favour larger producers who actively seek information

38. 5 - Information and technology transfer:Research Questions • How frequently are producers receiving technical assistance? • Which organizations are providing technical assistance? • What other sources are farmers getting information from? • What is the typical price for technical assistance? • What type of information is being provided, and what information is desired by producers? • What is the level of penetration of livestock associations and producer groups?

39. Conclusions • Some limitations may seem obvious… • However limitations interact • Need systems solution for a systems problem • Baseline survey • Influence research directions • Generate additional questions • Growing interest in sheep farming