Intensive grazing and maize silage to enhance the sustainability of small-scale dairy systems in the highlands of Mexico
2017
Prospero-Bernal, Fernando | Martínez-García, Carlos Galdino | Olea-Pérez, Rafael | López-González, Felipe | Arriaga-Jordán, Carlos Manuel
The effects of two innovative feeding strategies—intensive grazing (GR) and maize silage (MS)—on the sustainability of small-scale dairy systems (SSDS) were assessed in the highlands of central Mexico. On a total of 24 farms, four innovations were adopted between 2011 and 2014. Five farms continued their conventional feeding strategy (CC) of cut-and-carry pasture supplemented with commercial concentrate and ground corn grain, as well as straws (maize, oat, and wheat) in the dry season of feed scarcity; six farms implemented MS in the dry season; six farms GR of pastures; and seven farms implemented both GR and MS. Assessment in 2015 showed that farms which implemented both GR and MS had a higher local diversity score (P ≤ 0.001), higher scores for ethics and human development, and a higher score in economic independence (P ≤ 0.05) than farms that implemented only one of the innovations. The overall sustainability score (with range 0–100) was 46 for CC, 47 for MS, 52 for GR, and 55 for GR + MS. The innovations reduced feeding costs and enhanced sustainability, particularly when GR + MS were both implemented.
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