Abstract
ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the spatial distribution of purebred Bos taurus taurus bovine breeds raised in Brazil in association with climatic, physical and socioeconomic variables. The breeds Aberdeen Angus, Ayrshire, Braford, Brangus, Charolais, Devon, Flemish, Hereford, Pinzgauer, Shorthorn and Simental were classified according to their aptitude (milk, meat or dual-purpose). They were spatialized according to their aptitude using state and municipal information. The milk breeds were found in the states of Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina, while the dual-purpose breeds were found in Minas Gerais and Rio Grande do Sul states and the beef breeds were concentrated in the southern region. Only the Aberdeen Angus meat breed showed higher dispersion in other regions. Meat and dual-purpose breeds tended to be raised in regions with lower maximum temperature, average temperature, thermal amplitude and temperature-humidity index. Dual-purpose breeds were found in municipalities with high humidity and altitude, but with a low gross domestic product, little technical guidance received from cooperatives and the government, low control of diseases and parasites, as well as low use of pasture rotation systems. The spatial distribution of Brazilian bovine taurine breeds, regardless of aptitude, was related to climatic, physical and socioeconomic factors.
Highlights
There are around 998.3 million cattle distributed worldwide (Livestock..., 2017), of which 22.64% are in Brazil
The variables that remained in the model were maximum temperature (Max), thermal amplitude (Therm_amp), average temperature (A_temp), relative humidity (RH), temperature and humidity index (THI), altitude (Alt), gross domestic product (GDP), technical guidance received from cooperatives (Coop), technical guidance received from the government (Gov), disease and parasite control (Disea_paras) and pasture rotation system (Past_rot)
The meat breeds were concentrated in the southern region of the country, with only the Aberdeen Angus breed spread to the other regions of the country, being found in the states of São Paulo (SP), Minas Gerais (MG), Goiás (GO) and extending to Pará (PA) (Figure 1)
Summary
There are around 998.3 million cattle distributed worldwide (Livestock..., 2017), of which 22.64% are in Brazil. Brazil has several different cattle exploitation systems, with different economies, environments and climates, and these differences in systems occur due to the wide availability of natural resources related to animal production (Ferreira et al, 2014). Environmental factors are reflected in cattle production as a whole, due to its influences on production variables and the adaptation of animals (Joost et al, 2010). When importing animals, it is sometimes unknown whether the animals will adapt to the new environment. To avoid production changes, farmers generally try to mitigate external factors such as climate, vegetation, geomorphology, nutrition, management, health, hygiene and even socioeconomic factors (Herrero et al, 2010)
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