Current situation and future prospects of livestock farming around a Pyrenean ski resort

En algunas zonas de montaña la ganadería coexiste con centros invernales que pueden modificar las circunstancias socioeconómicas de las explotaciones, dando lugar a sinergias pero también a relaciones de competencia en ciertos aspectos. Para analizar las implicaciones de la existencia de una estación de esquí sobre los sistemas ganaderos desarrollados en su entorno, se llevó a cabo una encuesta estructurada a los ganaderos usuarios de pastos en una estación de esquí del Pirineo aragonés (Aramón-Panticosa), cuyos rebaños sumaban 314 vacas y 75 yeguas adultas. Se recogieron aspectos relativos a la estructura del rebaño, base territorial, manejo del ganado y mano de obra, que, en general, respondían a pautas comunes a otras zonas del Pirineo, salvo por el alto índice de pluriactividad de los titulares (60%). Se analizó la dinámica de la explotación, que apuntaba a una continuidad a medio término pero que podría comprometerse a largo plazo por la falta de relevo generacional. Las explotaciones se consideraban estabilizadas en tamaño y gestión, con pocos cambios previsibles en el futuro en las circunstancias socioeconómicas actuales, aunque su estructura y manejo variarían considerablemente ante distintos escenarios potenciales (cambio de políticas agrarias o coyuntura económica). Se analizó la relevancia de distintos objetivos técnicos, económicos y sociales, observándose un menor peso de los primeros con respecto al resto. Los ganaderos consideraron mayoritariamente que la estación de esquí había influido positivamente en el valle, y en parte también en la ganadería, al posibilitar alternativas para la diversificación económica, mientras la estación se beneficiaba del mantenimiento de sus superficies por el ganado.In some mountain areas ski resorts coexist with farming activities, modifying the socio-economic environment and providing synergies but also antagonisms in certain aspects. In order to determine the effect of a ski resort on livestock farming systems in its surroundings, a structured interview was conducted with all farmers whose herds (314 adult cows and 75 mares) grazed during the summer on pastures within a Pyrenean ski station (Aramón-Panticosa, Huesca). Information on labour, herd size, land use, management and technical performance of cattle and horses was collected, as well as recent dynamics and prospective changes under the current socio-economic circumstances and different scenarios, and their objectives and opinions about several issues. When compared with that of similar areas, farm management and performance was similar except for the high farmers’ pluriactivity (60%). Continuity of the farms was ensured on a medium term, but might be low in the long run due to lack of succession. Farms were stable in terms of size and management, and few changes were envisaged in the future in the current socio-economic conditions. However, if they changed or different agricultural polices were implemented, farm structure and technical management may be considerably modified. Regarding their objectives, they considered that economic aspects and those related to their family’s quality of life were crucial, while technical objectives were less important. Concerning their opinions about tourism, they considered that the valley and indirectly their farming activity had benefitted from the ski resort, mostly due to the alternatives for economic diversification that it provided, while in turn it profited from the ecosystem services provided by livestock grazing.Publishe

Repercusión del ritmo de crecimiento en lactación y recría de novillas sobre la entrada en pubertad y la fertilidad

Publishe

La ganadería en el entorno de una estación de esquí del Pirineo. 2. Dinámica de la explotación y perspectivas de futuro ante distintos escenarios socioeconómicos

Publishe

Rendimientos de vacas primíparas con parto a dos años en función de su ritmo de crecimiento en lactación y recría

Publishe

Effects of nutrition level during lactation and rearing periods on growth patterns, puberty onset and fertility rate in beef heifers

This study analysed the effects of different nutrition levels from heifer birth to first Timed Artificial Insemination (TAI) at 15 months, on their growth patterns, puberty onset and fertility rate. Twenty-nine Parda de Montaña heifers, born in autumn, were assigned to two growth rates in the lactation period (0-6 months: 700 vs. 1000 g/d, to Low (L) and High (H), respectively) and in the rearing period (6-15 months: 700 vs. 1000 g/d, to Low (L) and High (H), respectively), resulting in 4 treatments: LL, LH, HL, HH. At 15 months of age an Ovsynch protocol with an intravaginal progesterone device was used to synchronize and breed the heifers. Weight was taken weekly from birth until breeding season was finished to study the evolution of weight and average daily gain (ADG) along the experiment. Heifers were bled weekly throughout the rearing period to determinate the onset at puberty through plasma progesterone concentration. Heifers’ average daily gains were influenced by the lactation and the rearing nutrition levels, animals compensating the growth rates in the different phases. The age at onset of puberty was higher in the animals receiving the Lactation low nutrition level (P<0.01) and the Rearing low nutrition level (P<0.001). Heifers of all lots showed similar weights at onset of puberty (55% adult weight), conception age (16.4 months) and fertility rate (89%). It can be concluded that the advance of the first service from 21 to 15 months of age is possible in extensive systems of beef cattle, if growth rates of 1 kg/d during lactation or/and rearing are guaranteed. Additional research is needed to determinate the impacts on adult size and frequency of dystocia at first and subsequent calvings of early-bred heifersPublishe

La ganadería en el entorno de una estación de esquí del Pirineo. 3. Objetivos y opiniones de los ganaderos

Publishe

La ganadería en el entorno de una estación de esquí del Pirineo. 1. Diagnóstico de situación

Publishe

Efectos del nivel de alimentación durante la lactación y la recría sobre el crecimiento de novillas de raza Parda de montaña

raza Parda de montañaPublishe

A qualitative research on Spanish farmers and citizens perceptions of ecosystem services provided by mountain livestock farming

There is a strong debate nowadays on the public goods derived from certain agro-ecosystems and their valuation for establishing payments for ecosystem services (ES). In this context, we carried out a qualitative research on the spontaneous knowledge of ecosystem services and the perceptions of farmers and citizens on relationships between mountain farming and the environment. Five focus groups (2 with farmers and 3 with citizens; n=33) were organized in north-eastern Spain. Discussions were guided according to 5 general questions on links between pasture-based mountain livestock and the environment, lasted around 1.5 hours, were video recorded and transcripts were written for text analysis. Ideas or items from discussions were interpreted and organized according to the type of ES participants referred to (provisioning, regulating, habitat, cultural). The ES that were mentioned and discussed a greater number of times were (in descending order): aesthetic (landscape/ vegetation); gene pool protection (biodiversity maintenance); disturbance prevention (forest fires); lifecycle maintenance (nutrient cycling, photosynthesis); raw materials (firewood, forage); water purification/ waste management; spiritual experience; recreation/ tourism; soil fertility/ erosion prevention; and culture/ art. Differences between farmers and citizens were observed: farmers gave more importance to regulating (in particular, prevention of forest fires and soil fertility) and provisioning (raw materials) ES, mainly related to their own farming activity or local circumstances; whereas citizens gave more importance to cultural (aesthetic landscape/ vegetation, spiritual experience, recreation/ tourism and culture/art) ES, showing in general more global concerns. This study constitutes the base for a quantitative research on valuation (including monetary valuation) of ES derived from mountain farming systems in Mediterranean and North-Alpine areas. Keywords: public goods, sustainability, valuation, focus groups.Publishe

Percepciones de ganaderos y ciudadanos sobre las relaciones entre la ganadería de montaña y el medio ambiente. Un estudio cualitativo

Publishe