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

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

3. Location

4. Location

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

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

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

9. Natural Resources Climate Climate Soils Soils Vegetation Vegetation

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

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

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

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

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

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

16. Vegetation Vegetation distribution dependent on rainfall Vegetation distribution dependent on rainfall

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

18. Vegetation Dominated by leguminosae Dominated by leguminosae

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

32. 3 - Production potentials of existing animals: Observations Dorpers the “new fashion” Dorpers the “new fashion” Dorper and crosses appear more common with larger producers 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 does flock composition vary in terms of numbers, breeds and classes of animal? How do producers divide their animals into management groups? How do producers divide their animals into management groups? What constraints may influence this decision? What constraints may influence this decision? What are producers’ breeding objectives, including desired breed composition and animal selection criteria? 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 quantities of animals are being sold, to what markets, and for what price? What are the reproductive data What are the reproductive data What are the most important animal health issues and what veterinary products are used? 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 Some Government investment in infrastructure Appears limiting for smallholders Appears limiting for smallholders Lack of fences and watering facilities Lack of fences and watering facilities Labour a substitute for infrastructure Labour a substitute for infrastructure Difficulty in maintaining management groups Difficulty in maintaining management groups

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

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

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

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

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