Construction of Social Sustainability in Milk Production Systems in Central Mexico

Objective: To build mathematical models to evaluate the social sustainability of small-scale milk production systems. Design/Methodology/Approach: Thirty small-scale cowsheds were analyzed. Two models were built using multivariate regression, estimated with ordinary least squares and considering the factors that producers perceive as important for social sustainability. Results: The first model (ER) included tangible variables and the second intangible variables (SR). Both models explained more than 80% of the variables associated with social sustainability. Study Limitations/Implications: The results represent an effort to link the statistical analysis with qualitative data that is difficult to quantify. Conclusions: The ER and SR models represent a proposal for counting immaterial indicators so they can be incorporated into the sustainability analysis. Both models could be a methodological proposal to connect statistical data with purely qualitative data such as perceptionThis study is part of the project with key 129449/2009 financed by CONACy

Dynamics and structure of research in swine health in Mexico: A methodological approach

Objective: Characterized the socio-structural dynamics on research in pig veterinary and health in Mexico. Design/methodology/approach: Data were collected from the IPVS Congresses Memories from 2010-2018. The study unit were authors and co-authors to the papers. Social Network analysis was used to understand the dynamics of research groups. The UCINET 6 for Windows was used to the analysis. Results: In the area to pig veterinary and health, 63% of the research has been carried out by universities and research centers, and the rest by the private initiative. The most active universities with research are UNAM with 34% of the papers presented, followed by INIFAP with 9%, the UAEMex and University of Yucatán. The main areas of research in pig health were PRRS, Circovirus, Influenza, Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea among others. Limitations on study/implications: This work only considered the scientific information in pig veterinary contained in memories of the IPVS Congresses of 2010-2018. Displaying this works networks makes it possible to detect spaces to creates research policies.  Findings/conclusions: Research about pig veterinary health in Mexico is focused in five working groups, so knowing who is key actors will allow adequate dissemination of the informationObjective: To characterize the socio-structural dynamics in the field of swine health research in Mexico. Design/methodology/approach: The data used were obtained from proceedings of IPVS international conferences from 2010-2018. The study unit was the result of co-authorships. The Social Networks Analysis (SNA) was used to understand the working dynamics of the research groups through the UCINET 6 software for Windows. Results: In the area of swine health and veterinary science, 63% of the research has depended on higher education institutions and research centers and the rest on the private sector. The most active universities with research are Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (34%), Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales Agrícolas y Pecuarias (9%), Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, and Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán. The main research areas in swine diseases were PRRS, Circovirus, Influenza, Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea, among others. Limitations on study/implications: This study was done considering only scientific information about swine health contained in proceedings of IPVS Conferences from 2010-2018. To visualize these working networks allows detecting spaces for possibility in terms of creation of research policies. Findings/conclusions: The research about swine health in Mexico is concentrated in five working groups, which is why understanding these key stakeholders will allow greater dissemination of the information

Contribución de la producción animal en pequeña escala al desarrollo rural

La producción y el consumo de productos de origen animal han experimentado un rápido crecimiento en todo el mundo, y se prevé que continuarán aumentando. Se considera que la mayor parte del incremento en la producción provendrá de sistemas de producción en pequeña escala, que representan el medio de vida de hasta un 70% de la población rural pobre del mundo.1 La producción animal en pequeña escala se reconoce en todo el mundo como un elemento que contribuye al alivio de la pobreza en el medio rural, mediante generación de ingresos, oportunidades de ocupación y dinamismo del uso de los recursos disponibles. Por lo tanto, es de suma importancia conocer las dinámicas de estos sistemas de producción animal y su contribución al desarrollo rural en México. Investigadores y extensionistas deben priorizar las demandas de la producción animal en las comunidades rurales, ya que la producción animal en pequeña escala ha contribuido a mejorar la calidad de vida y a disminuir la vulnerabilidad de las familias productoras. En el México prehispánico la población sólo criaba xoloitzcuintle y guajolotes como animales domésticos, y complementaba en proteínas su dieta con la caza y la pesca. Sin embargo, con la llegada de los españoles en 1521 llegaron también los primeros bovinos a la Nueva España, que se reprodujeron con suma rapidez. La carne de bovino llegó a constituir una parte sustancial de la dieta alimenticia de toda la población.2 A pesar de que al inicio la producción animal era casi nula, ésta empezó a desarrollarse rápidamente y en la actualidad representa un pilar importante para el desarrollo rural en las familias campesinas de nuestro país, pues es vista como una fuente de ingreso

¿Cómo abordar temas interdisciplinarios a partir de la Ecología Cultural?

Este artículo tiene como objetivo principal explicar cómo a partir de la ecología cultural se pueden abordar temas interdisciplinarios. Para efectos del mismo se colocan dos ejemplos prácticos, el primero de ellos pertenece a la producción florícola en el Municipio de Villa Guerrero, mientras que el segundo expondrá los problemas sociales y ecológicos que trae consigo la construcción de obras hidráulicas en el municipio de Almoloya de Juárez en el Estado de México

Espacios productivos y roles domésticos en granjas de leche en pequeña escala en México

La participación de las mujeres en actividades agropecuarias en México ha sido invisibilizada puesto que son los hombres quienes toman las decisiones y ostentan el control sobre los medios productivos. Por el contrario, en el ámbito doméstico, la participación masculina no parece tener una contribución significativa ni visible, ya que son las mujeres las responsables de estos espacios. Este proceso de invisibilización de ambos géneros condujo este artículo hacia la exploración de los espacios y las relaciones de género que conforman la estructura social en el modelo (granja) producción de leche en pequeña escala en el Centro de México. Utilizando el método etnográfico fue posible definir al espacio físico como un componente básico de interacción y de relaciones entre lo femenino y lo masculino, y entre lo productivo y no productivo. Así, delimitaron dos espacios físicos de dominancia masculina: el terreno productivo y el establo, y de dos de dominancia femenina: la vivienda y el cuidado de la salud, y la milpa de traspatio. Se identificaron convergencias de ambos géneros en todos los espacios físicos y las actividades asignadas a través de esta estructura de género; aunque invisibles, soportan la reproducción social del modelo

Strategies and socio-productive relationships in pig backyard production

Objective: The objective was to determine socio-economic relationships in backyard pig farms. Design/methodology/approximation: Farms were from 1 to 8 sows. Data was collected with semi structured questionnaires and periodical monitoring. Production cost was determined with general cost formula and the countable effect of family labour was determined. Two groups were stablished: Group 1) Yong married couples; and Group 2) Consolidated elderly marriages without married suns. Social Network Analysis was used to determine strongness of the relations founded. Results: Five social-productive relations were discovered: 1) food-producer relation; 2) piglet-“fattener”-butcher; 3) religious festivities-pigs; 4) year season-pig; and 5) pig producer-boar owner relation. Income was different when family labour was not counted. Limitations/implications: Results showed a possibility to combine qualitative data and statistical modelling related with social and economic behavior of backyard pig farms and small scale production farms.Objective: To determine socioeconomic relationships in backyard pig farms. Design/methodology/approximation: The farms studied had 1 to 8 sows. We used semi-structured questionnaires and periodic monitoring to collect data. We determined the cost of production with the general cost formula and calculated the countable effect of family labor. Two groups were established: Group 1) Young married couples; and Group 2) Elderly couples who have been married for a long time and who do not have married children. Social Network Analysis was used to determine the strength of those relationships. Results: Five socio-productive relations were discovered: 1) input supplier-producer; 2) piglet breeder-swineherd-butcher; 3) religious festivities-pigs; 4) season of the year-pig; and 5) producer-boar keeper. Income differed when family work was not counted. Limitations/implications: Results showed that it was possible to combine qualitative data and statistical modelling in studies about social and economic behavior of backyard pig farms and small-scale farms