CARGANDO

BEST LIVESTOCK PRACTICES Pantanal

Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay

It is the largest wetland in the world, with 200.000 km² distributed between Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay. The Pantanal is a mosaic of flooded grasslands, savannas, and tropical forests and provides water and other environmental services to much of South America. Despite its magnificent natural beauty and rich biodiversity, less than 5% of the Pantanal is protected. 19.

BIODIVERSITY

Over 3.500 plant species, 656 bird species, 325 fish species, 53 amphibians, 98 reptiles, and 159 mammals 20. Jaguar (Panthera onca), blue macaw (Anodorhyncus hyacinthinus), giant river otter (Pteroneura brasiliensis) and marsh deer (Blastocerus dichotomus) can be found.

© Jorge André Diehl / WWF Brasil

THREATS

Currently, the Pantanal faces challenges of increasing intensity, such as the increase in the occurrence of extreme droughts and fires, the installation of unplanned settlements, and the implementation of unsustainable agricultural practices. In 2024, fires in the Pantanal recorded the worst first half of the last 26 years, with June setting a record for fires.

  • Threat to the free circulation of rivers caused by the creation of small hydroelectric plants (SHP)
  • Land use change and deforestation that affects the natural recovery time of the environments.
  • Increase in droughts and fires causing loss of biodiversity

The Pantanal, called the “kingdom of waters”, is an immense reservoir of fresh water, very important for water supply, climate stabilization and soil conservation around the world. It is possible to reconcile food production, including livestock, respecting the scale and best practices necessary for the maintenance of natural vegetation, soil, water and local culture.

Unsustainable livestock farming, in addition to monocultures and contamination of soil and water resources with agricultural inputs, are threats to the Pantanal.

In recent decades, the pressure of the installation of infrastructure projects with serious environmental impacts has increased, including the installation of hydroelectric plants in the headwaters of rivers. The growing number of these projects are already modifying the hydrological cycle and the balance of the entire ecosystem.

The Pantanal, called the “kingdom of waters”, is an immense reservoir of fresh water, very important for water supply, climate stabilization and soil conservation around the world. It is possible to reconcile food production, including livestock, respecting the scale and best practices necessary for the maintenance of natural vegetation, soil, water and local culture.

 

Unsustainable livestock farming, in addition to monocultures and contamination of soil and water resources with agricultural inputs, are threats to the Pantanal.

 

In recent decades, the pressure of the installation of infrastructure projects with serious environmental impacts has increased, including the installation of hydroelectric plants in the headwaters of rivers. The growing number of these projects are already modifying the hydrological cycle and the balance of the entire ecosystem.

Opportunities

Improving the quality of beef is an opportunity that the region offers. Some producers in the Pantanal are seeking alliances to certify the sustainability of their livestock production, playing a transformative role in terms of productivity and efficient use of the landscape, combining livestock production with the conservation of the natural resources of the Pantanal.

Maintaining ecosystem services helps reduce the demand for chemical inputs such as pesticides and synthetic fertilizers.

Best livestock practices help open spaces in more demanding markets inside and outside Brazil.

Contributes to the preservation of biodiversity and water security in the Cerrado and other biomes.

© Augusto Alves Simão / WWF Brasil

Best livestock practices

The sustainable management of the wetland allows reconciling the conservation of this unique region with the production of food, and the improvement of profitability and stability of the business.

Restore degraded natural grasslands.

Reduce accumulated dry biomass to minimize fire risk and improve the palatability of natural vegetation.

Build dams and drinking troughs, and use canals, pumps, pipes, deep bays, or excavated reservoirs to supply water to livestock, preventing animals from moving more than 2 km.

Use a landscape approach to ensure connectivity and apply holistic management and planning of forests, grasslands, and pastures, maintaining their structure and functionality and, whenever possible, aligned with other productive agricultural systems, prioritizing native species.

Promote the harmonious integration between domestic and wild animals.

Reduce and preferably eliminate the use of agrochemicals and increase the use of bio-inputs.

Guarantee adequate working conditions, respect the rights of workers, and generate opportunities for personal growth and training according to responsibilities and tasks.

© Jaap van der Waarde / WWF Netherlands

CASE STUDY SANTA FE DO CORIXINHO ranch – PANTANAL

CORUMBA, MATO GROSSO DO SUL, BRAZIL.

Estancia Santa Fé do Corixinho is a medium-sized farm that produces cows following the guidelines of organic cattle raising, with low use of inputs, feeding on pasture, and preserving large extensions of the field with its natural vegetation. The Estancia coexists with the flood pulses of the Pantanal, seeking to avoid the loss of natural areas in a region where more than 95% of the territory is made up of large farms dedicated to cattle raisingi. 21.

AREAS BY TYPE OF ENVIRONMENT (HECTARES)

  • 11.287Total area

  • 4.310Native woody vegetation

  • 3.700Implanted pastures

  • 3.270Natural grasslands

© Andre Dib / WWF Brasil

CHARACTERISTICS

  • Management

    Rational pasture management. Adoption of the “Ecological Pastures” system, introducing implanted pastures respecting the percentages defined by EMBRAPA to replace the low-quality native pastures, preserving the trees and phytophysiognomy. The Voisin system is applied, changing plots every 3 days.

  • Animal health, nutrition and traceability

    Phytotherapy and bio inputs in animal nutrition and health. High technology in nutritional supplementation. Adherence to ecological and sustainable certification processes and 100% traceability with individual identification through caravans.

  • Stocking rate efficiency

    The stocking rate can be doubled from 0.25 to 0.5 animal unit/ha. The historical stocking rate (0.53 animal unit/ha) was maintained, with an increase of more than 50% in production.

  • Water quality

    Water supply with gravity distribution to the drinking troughs to guarantee quality.

  • Fertilization

    Biological fertilization of pastures with native microorganisms.

  • Dependence on external inputs

    Improvement in zootechnical indexes with low use of external inputs. Increase in herd productivity index from 21% to 33%.

  • General fertility index

    The overall fertility index is 75%, exceeding the regional average of 55%.

BIODIVERSITY

Preservation of important phytophysiognomies, contributing to the conservation of biodiversity and resilience of the productive system. During flooding, cattle are driven to non-flooded areas, leaving the land to rest for months, freeing the area for wildlife.

  • CAPYBARAHydrochoerus hydrochaeris

    © Henry Maillet & Jeff Wong WWF-Paraguay

  • SOUTHERN TAMANDUATamandua tetradactyla

    © Isis Mei Medri WWF-Brazil

  • HYACINTH MACAWAnodorhynchus hyacinthinus

    © Paulo Behar WWF-Brazil

  • YACARE CAIMANCaiman yacare

    © Henry Maillet & Jeff Wong WWF-Paraguay

  • JAGUARPanthera onca

    © Pedro Santiago Amora WWF-Brazil