Technological innovation to transform family livestock farming in the South American Chaco.

Productivity was increased and environmental impact reduced in family livestock systems in the region through the adoption of technology supported by training and technical assistance.

Context of the story

The issue of low productivity among family cattle farmers in the South American Chaco (Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay) was addressed. These producers represent more than 90% of the total cattle farmers in the region and own small to medium-sized herds (20-500 cattle). Low productivity is reflected in the scarce number of calves produced per 100 cows per year, which is measured by the weaning rate, a key indicator for evaluating the project's impact. While family producers have an average weaning rate of 45%, large producers with technology and infrastructure achieve rates of 80-90%. The weaning rate not only affects family economic income but also has a direct impact on the carbon balance and other ecosystem services.

Technology innovations

The Implemented Initiative

This project seeks to improve the efficiency, stability and resilience of family beef production systems. Specifically: 1) Productive systems were surveyed in each of the agroecological zones and alternative improved practices were proposed. 2) A network of pilot sites in farmers' fields was assembled, to adapt, evaluate and demonstrate proposed technologies to ranchers. 3) A technical assistance and training plan for family beef production innovation is being implemented. 4) A system for the registration and monitoring of cattle farms is being developed, with evaluation of technological uptake and the effects on the productive system.

Tools to address the problems

The technological solution

With a participatory approach, extension agents and producers agreed the critical technologies to be implemented in each pilot site, which were grouped into 4 types: a) fodder and food: pasture implantation, preparation of fodder reserves, stock adjustment according to fodder supply and animal requirements, and improvement of grazing systems; b) Infrastructure and business management: field divisions, water collection and distribution systems; registration and monitoring of administrative performance indicators. c) Animal health: Adaptation of the health plan to the system and the area, control of parasitic and infectious diseases and bull evaluation. d) Herd management: monitoring of animal body condition, elimination of unproductive categories, supplementation of calves and heifers, seasonal breeding, pregnancy diagnosis and early weaning.

"The IPTA technicians accompanied us, training us on how to better manage the health of our animals. It's very important to have someone to discuss these matters with."

— Mr. Cirilo Coronel, Nueva Mestre, Presidente Hayes Department, Paraguay

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Type of project

Agronomic Practices

Applied

Technological

Cattle raising

Results

The project updated the characterization of family cattle systems in the Chaco region of Argentina, Bolivia and Paraguay and of the technologies suited to each. It set up a network of 90 pilot sites: producers' farms that adopted improvements and will continue to serve as spaces for experimentation, demonstration and training. A total of 2,532 producers, 851 of them women, took part in 124 group training sessions, and 152 public-sector technical staff were trained. In a sample of 139 producers, the weaning rate (calves weaned per 100 cows) rose on average from 55.2% to 61.9%, a 12% increase despite the 2022 and 2023 drought, and calf meat production is estimated to have grown by around 10%. An online course and a herd management app remain available to reach more producers and technicians.

Relevant data