Boosting cattle productivity in the South American Chaco

In recent decades there has been a rapid expansion and intensification of agricultural production in the South American Chaco region. However, most livestock producers still have very low productivity levels . A valid indicator of this productivity is the low annual weaning rate (calves per cow per year), which is below 50%. Low productivity can be explained by poor availability and planning of forage resources (e.g. pastures, rangeland and reserves), a lack of farm infrastructure (e.g. pasture and corrals), inefficient herd management (e.g. lack of planning and organization of services, weaning) and lack of adequate health management (e.g. reproductive and parasitic diseases). This project seeks to improve the efficiency, stability and resilience of family livestock systems in the Chaco region through the incorporation of alternative technologies and capacities to improve livestock management. Researchers, extension workers and producers from the three countries that share the South American Chaco: Argentina (INTA-ArgenINTA), Bolivia (INIAF and FeGaSaCruz) and Paraguay (IPTA-IICA), are participating in this cooperative project. The project is funded by the New Zealand Government as part of its contribution to the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases (GRA).