Abstract
This study aimed to develop a diagnosis of land use suitability, growth prospects and milk production intensification in a family farm located in Conceição do Tocantins, Tocantins, Brazil. Data were obtained through interviews with employees and residents, cooperative members, analysis of productive activities and sources of income. To understand the milk production intensification, an experiment was carried out with the division of an area of 1 ha into 3 paddocks and pasture management. For soil aptitude characterization, vector data provided by Seplan were used. The division of the area into paddocks and pasture management allowed an increase in the animal load of 3 AUha-1year-1 and 48% in the daily milk production in the winter and 32% in the summer. In view of the results, it could be concluded that well-formed areas, rest and occupation period with grass reached animal load of 10 AUha-1year-1. Thus, the possibilities of agroecological intensification of pastures were promising and productive; however, investments were high. For professionals interested in these changes, it is necessary to invest in quality paddocks and cattle, in addition to professional training.
Highlights
The state of Tocantins has 139 municipalities with population of 1,383,445, with 78.81% of the population, which corresponds to 1,090,241 people, living in urban areas and 21.19%, representing 293,212 people, living in rural areas (IBGE, 2019)
For professionals interested in these changes, it is necessary to invest in quality paddocks and cattle, in addition to professional training
Pereira and Nascimento (2014) reported that the entire agricultural and livestock sector plays a relevant role in the sustainability of the state economy, because while the gross value added of agriculture has a share of 5.6% in the total gross value added of the Brazilian economy, in Tocantins, this share reaches 20.6%
Summary
The state of Tocantins has 139 municipalities with population of 1,383,445, with 78.81% of the population, which corresponds to 1,090,241 people, living in urban areas and 21.19%, representing 293,212 people, living in rural areas (IBGE, 2019). According to IBGE (2019), 7.5 million hectares are occupied by livestock and 700 thousand hectares are occupied by agriculture, leaving, 5.7 million hectares for future expansion of the agricultural frontier of Tocantins. These animal production systems are related to production capacity, management, social benefits and even the survival of families (Guerra et al, 2015) in situations such as the periodic droughts that affect southeastern Tocantins. Production diversification is generally related to financial conditions, producer's personal characteristics and factors such as periods of water scarcity, soil aridity, distance from large input supply centers, among others (Silva et al, 2018). Talking about agroecological systems leads to a reflection on the reduction of inputs used and on the complexity of the different systems currently in practice (Valenzuela, 2016; Nogueira, 2010)
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