Integral farming models for Bahía Blanca and Coronel Rosales, Argentina

Abstract

The objective of this work was to obtain sustainable models for Bahía Blanca and Coronel Rosales Counties, Argentina, by combining crop and livestock production activities as to improve the productivity and economic returns of the present systems. The Monte Carlo technique was employed and 12 models were selected for the homogeneous edaphic areas 1 and 2 in both counties. The models were described technologically and the following indices were calculated: a) total gross margin ($/ha), b) livestock production gross margin ($/ha), c) agricultural gross margin ($/ha), d) milk production (L/ha), e) meat production (kg/ha), f) stocking rate (cow equivalent/ha), and g) stock efficiency (%). Index means were: a) 133.4, b) 135.2, c) 126.6, d) 898.0, e) 92.1, f) 0.77, and g) 53.3, respectively in Area 1; and: a) 99.5, b) 99.8, c) 89.0, d) 682.0, e) 75.5, f) 0.68, and g) 50.4, in Area 2, respectively. These means were clearly higher than those of the real systems. Economic returns were discussed as a function of percentage participation of crop and livestock production activities, and it was concluded that due to the broad spectrum of models calculated using known technologies, the selection and adoption of these by farmers would be facilitated.