CARGANDO

BEST LIVESTOCK PRACTICES Gran Chaco

Argentina y Paraguay

With over 1 million km², it is the second largest forest mass in South America, after the Amazon. Its extensive dry forests, wetlands, grasslands, and savannahs help regulate climate and water, provide food and ecosystem services, and are the habitat of numerous species. However, in the last 3 decades it has undergone an enormous transformation of its natural environments to agricultural systems.
60.4% of the Gran Chaco is in Argentina, 28% in Paraguay and the rest in Bolivia (11.4%) and Brazil (0.1%) 14.

BIODIVERSITY

More than 3.400 species of plants, 500 species of birds, 450 species of amphibians and reptiles, and 150 species of mammals, including the jaguar (Panthera onca) and the giant armadillo (Priodontes maximus), two of the most endangered mammals in the region. 15

© Yawar Films / Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina

THREATS

Deforestation and conversion rates in the region are alarming. In Argentina alone, more than 8 million hectares have been lost since the 1990s, due to the expansion of production models based on the conversion of forests and grasslands, and the implantation of megathermal pastures. This resulted in:

  • Biodiversity loss
  • Increase in GHG emissions from deforestation and the use of input-based technologies
  • Affectation of the structure and dynamics of organic matter in soils
  • Impact on the local culture linked to the traditional use of native forest resources

Livestock farming without replacing the native forest provides shelter for the animals, sustains a large part of the native biodiversity and maintains carbon stocks in the soil and vegetation. At the same time, it provides other timber and non-timber resources, and demands local labor, promoting roots and rural culture.

The conversion to agriculture replaces forests and natural grasslands with crops, generating loss of habitat for fauna and the extinction of the flora, water and wind erosion and rise of water tables with salinization. Furthermore, due to its high level of mechanization, industrial agriculture expels the rural population.

Livestock farming on established pastures eliminates all functions of the forest ecosystem. This causes the total loss of biodiversity, loss of carbon in soils and vegetation, higher temperatures and sunshine, among others.

Livestock farming without replacing the native forest provides shelter for the animals, sustains a large part of the native biodiversity and maintains carbon stocks in the soil and vegetation. At the same time, it provides other timber and non-timber resources, and demands local labor, promoting roots and rural culture.

 

The conversion to agriculture replaces forests and natural grasslands with crops, generating loss of habitat for fauna and the extinction of the flora, water and wind erosion and rise of water tables with salinization. Furthermore, due to its high level of mechanization, industrial agriculture expels the rural population.

 

Livestock farming on established pastures eliminates all functions of the forest ecosystem. This causes the total loss of biodiversity, loss of carbon in soils and vegetation, higher temperatures and sunshine, among others.

Opportunities

Production models tested in the region contemplate the integration of livestock into portions of the native forest to improve beef production, while maintaining the provision of ecosystem services and the local cultures associated with the forest. The approach prioritizes the development of silvopastoral systems, although other models coexist in the region (particularly in Paraguay). There, livestock production is prioritized on already converted areas, with pasture being implanted on a portion of the farm, maintaining the natural cover of the intangible forest in the remaining area, in compliance with the country´s legislation.

These systems allow the following indicators to be improved:

Production rates are similar to conventional systems. The forest cover improves the sanitary condition of the herd and allows the complementary use of forest resources. The entire system becomes more resilient.

Greater soil cover and incorporation of organic matter that improves its structure, reduction of GHG emissions (by reducing deforestation and greater efficiency in the conversion of dry matter into animal protein) and maintenance of the habitat for the rich biodiversity of the region.

The conservation of the traditional culture associated with the native forest.

© Yawar Films / WWF Paraguay

Best livestock practices

The sustainable management of native ecosystems allows improving the profitability and stability of the business.

Conserve vegetation in areas close to watercourses, ensuring the maintenance of grasslands and/or gallery forests.

Prioritize permanent ground cover. Use of crops and pastures adapted to each type of soil and ensure their correct implementation.

Plan livestock grazing, prioritizing the conservation and management of natural vegetation, maintaining its structure and functionality.

Integrate livestock into the native forest within the framework of Forest Management with Integrated Livestock (MBGI), maintaining its structure and functionality.

Minimize the conversion of grasslands and wetlands and maintain intangible surfaces.

Plan land use to promote continuity of natural environments at a landscape scale, according to current Territorial Planning regulations.

© Yawar Films / Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina

CASE STUDY LA MEDIA LEGUA ESTANCIA – GRAN CHACO

JUAN JOSÉ CASTELLI, PROVINCE OF CHACO, ARGENTINA.

Estancia La Media Legua is an agricultural establishment in the Dry Chaco, where low-intensity de-shrubbing is carried out, conserving the functions of the forest and biodiversity, but increasing the productivity of forage.

AREAS BY TYPE OF ENVIRONMENTS (HECTARES)

  • 3.600Total area

  • 1.575Virgin forest

  • 25Forage crops

  • 2.000Forest Management

© Yawar Films / Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina

Características

  • Beef production/ha

    182 kg/ha/year. The production of dry matter per ha/year is equivalent to that of a conventional system.

  • Human Resources

    1 manager/administrator; 2 foremen on horse and 2 tractor drivers.

  • Human resources training

    Human resources have a higher level of training than in a conventional approach.

  • Management

    Silvopastoral over native forest, with low intensity de-shrubbing. Rotational grazing, 3 to 4 paddocks per herd depending on whether it is a dry or wet year.
    Rolados: se realizan cada 3 años y se agregan 3 kg/ha de semilla de gatton panic (Megathyrsus maximus).

  • De-shrubbing

    carried out every 3 years and 3 kg/ha of gatton panic (Megathyrsus maximus) seed are added.

  • Conservation

    99% of the property preserves native forest, with densities of 200-250 trees/ha.

  • Forest use

    Potential forestry use of fallen trees. No burning is carried out.

  • Reproduction

    Breeding is done depending on the climatic conditions of the year.

  • Supplementation

    It is carried out only in winter, using the forest as forage.

  • Chemical control

    Not done to avoid drifting into trees.

  • Fossil energy consumption / unit of product

    Less than conventional approach.

  • GHG emissions intensity

    Low intensity, due to high secondary productivity and the fact that the standing forest remains in an out-of-balance state, sequestering carbon.

  • Nitrogen/phosphorus

    Compared to production on pastures that replace the forest, the nutrient cycle of livestock farming under forest is similar to that of the original forest.

  • Animal welfare

    The shelter of the forest avoids heat stress, which in turn improves productivity.

  • Soil structure

    Improvement due to the incorporation of organic matter into the soil, a product of de-shrubbing and the contribution of plant material and protection of the native forest.

BIODIVERSITY

The presence of indicator species was recorded: tapir (Tapirus terrestris), peccary (Pecari tajacu), giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla), guazuncho or corzuela (Mazama gouazoubira), ñandú (Rhea Americana) and chacoan mara (Dolichotis salinicola).

  • GIANT ANTEATERMyrmecophaga tridactyla

    © Yawar Films

  • TAPIRTapirus terrestris

    © Tomás Tamagno, algunos derechos reservados (CC BY)

  • BROCKET DEERMazama gouazoubira

    © Tomás Tamagno, algunos derechos reservados (CC-BY)

  • CHACO TORTOISEChelonoidis chilensis

    © Valentín Alfano, algunos derechos reservados (CC-BY)

  • THREE-BANDED ARMADILLOTolypeutes matacus

    © Yawar Films

CASE STUDY LA ROSANNE ESTANCIA – GRAN CHACO

PHILADELPHIA DISTRICT, BOQUERON DEPARTMENT, PARAGUAY

La Estancia La Rosanne is a full-cycle livestock production establishment located in the Dry Chaco, where animal welfare practices, strategic calf nutrition, minimal use of agrochemicals, and intelligent management of pastures and forages are applied. La Rosanne ranch is in an arid region that requires the utmost responsibility to manage water sources and forage reserves, achieving a resilient system and allowing the conservation of more forest area than required by Paraguayan legislation.

AREAS BY TYPE OF ENVIRONMENTS (HECTARES)

  • 7.229Total area

  • 3.229Native forest

  • 3.990Livestock use

  • 10Water reserve and roads

© WWF Paraguay

CHARACTERISTICS

  • Beef production

    4.400 heads, with an average stocking rate of 1.1 livestock units/ha. Stock efficiency is 44% (kg produced / kg in stock).

  • Human Resources

    2 administrative staff, 1 foreman, 6 for livestock management, 1 tractor driver, 4 for maintenance and cooking and 1 in charge of the water pumps

  • Human resources training

    CREA internal training and training program. Participation in a Rural Team School program.

  • Livestock management

    Full cycle livestock farming. The finishing live weight of the steers is 455 kg/head. Nelore rodeo crossed with Brangus. Animals with an intermediate frame (body size indicator) are sought to meet their requirements and shorten the finishing period.

  • Pasture management

    Replacing grass species with creeping ones for better soil coverage. Rotational grazing is carried out, with grazing time depending on initial availability of forage.

  • Pasture de-shrubbing

    They are carried out with a Ripper machine selectively according to the degree of weeding. Appropriate machinery is used to reduce costs and impact on the soil.

  • Stocking rate

    A forage balance is done considering availability, forage reserves and the possibility of supplementing the categories that will spend their first winter.

  • Avoided deforestation

    44% of the ranch maintains native forest, greater than the 25% legal reserve necessary according to Paraguayan Law.

  • Soil organic carbon

    Native forest: 39.5 tn COS/ha, productive pastures 38.1 tn COS/ha and degraded pastures 24.2 tn/ha.

  • Supplementation

    Only the calves during the first winter, with corn and mockery. The other categories of breeding and cows are supplemented with gatton panic (Megathyrsus maximus) silage or hay and mineral-protein salts.

  • Use of agrochemicals

    Only with technical prescription to control ants, woody and herbaceous plants. Tendency to reduce the use of agrochemicals and replace them with mechanical work.

  • GHG emissions intensity

    Average total emissions: 1.353 kg CO2 eq/livestock ha/year or 729 kg of CO2 eq/total ha/year. Each animal emitted on average during the last five years 1,185 kg of CO2 eq/cab/year, or 7.1 kg of CO2 eq/kg of live weight produced.

  • Animal welfare

    Prolonged work is not carried out in corrals or on days with high temperatures.

BIODIVERSITY

Prohibition of hunting, control of access for hunters and training of personnel.

  • CHACOAN PECCARYCatagonus wagneri

    © Alberto Esquivel WWF-Paraguay

  • JAGUARPanthera onca

    © Cámara trampa WWF-Paraguay

  • RED-FOOTED TORTOISEChelonoidis carbonaria

    © Chaco Films WWF- Paraguay

  • GEOFFROY’S CATLeopardus geoffroyi

    © Patricia Roche – WWF-Paraguay

  • TAPIRTapirus terrestris

    © Gianfranco Mancusi WWF-Paraguay