Productive Characterization of Dairy Farms in the Central-Westerm Province of Chaco - Argentina

Abstract

It is possible to produce efficiently in areas that are considered inadequate, as long as all the technologies are not transferred from the temperate zones in which the most important dairy basins of the country are located. The objective of the work was to identify and productively characterize the dairy farms in the center-west of the province of Chaco - Argentina. 11 dairy farms were identified and visits were made between September 2021 and April 2022 located in the center-west of the province of Chaco. The results show that the median and age ranges of the owners surveyed was 47 (36-67) years old, the area used for milk production was 50 (20-275) hectares, of which 78% is natural forest and 22% are dedicated to the production of cultivated pastures. The median and ranges of the milking cows were 9 (2-20) cows and 12 (3-15) dry cows, total milk production per day: in warm months 30 (14-300) liters and in cold months 30 (6-300) liters, the duration of lactation 200 (150-270) days. Dairy farms in the center-west of the Chaco province were identified and characterized, showing that there is dairy production in the region and that this forces the need to generate attention policies for them.