Abstract

COSTA, Ana Alexandra Vilela Marta Rio; REAL, Rosa Maria Correia  and  POETA, Alexandre Manuel da Silva Dinis. Some indicators for the sustainability of cattle raising. Rev. de Ciências Agrárias [online]. 2008, vol.31, n.1, pp.79-88. ISSN 0871-018X.

The production activity of bovine cattle of local breed is being faced for many as the sustainable future of cattle breeding. This work intends to evaluate some aspects that can influence the sustainability of the production systems adopted by the farms, taking the local breed of cattle “Maronês” as reference, under three points of view economic, social and environmental. The collection of information was carried through interviews with the farms proprietors/ managers, complemented with direct observation of the farms and collection of other elements supplied by the farmers. Through the selectioned group of indicators and indices it was verified that, in the economic aspect, for the Group of “Maronês” breed farms, are reached some important incomes, but they are below of the incomes of other breeds farms. In the environmental aspects, the group of “Maronês” breed assumes a particular aspect, demonstrating an important role in the protection of the environment and in the preservation of natural resources. Relatively to the social sustainability they do not point out significant differences between the groups of farms in analysis.

Keywords : economic; environment and social sustainability; cattle breeding.

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