Compliance of Goat Farming under Extensive Grazing with the Organic Standards and Its Contribution to Sustainability in Puebla, Mexico

José Nahed Toral, Zenón Gerardo López Tecpoyotl, José Roberto Aguilar Jiménez, Daniel Grande Cano and Claudia Delgadillo Puga
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José Nahed Toral: Grupo Agroecología, Departamento de Agricultura, Sociedad y Ambiente, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur., Carretera Panamericana y Periférico Sur S/N, Barrio Ma. Auxiliadora, San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas 29290, Mexico
Zenón Gerardo López Tecpoyotl: Colegio de Postgraduados, Campus Puebla, Boulevard Forjadores de Puebla Núm. 205, Santiago Momoxpan, Municipio de San Pedro Cholula, 72760 Puebla, Mexico
José Roberto Aguilar Jiménez: Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Chiapas, Rancho San Francisco Km. 8 Carretera Ejido Emiliano Zapata, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, 29060 Chiapas, Mexico
Daniel Grande Cano: Área de Sistemas de Producción Agropecuarios, División de Ciencias Biológicas y de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana Iztapalapa, Av. San Rafael Atlixco 186, Col. Vicentina, Alcaldía de Iztapalapa, 09340 Ciudad de México, Mexico
Claudia Delgadillo Puga: Departamento de Nutrición Animal Dr. Fernando Pérez-Gil Romo, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán (INCMNSZ), Vasco de Quiroga 15, 14080 Ciudad de México, Mexico

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 11, 1-25

Abstract: In order to determine whether organic production may be a viable option for goat farmers of the lower Mixteca region of Puebla, Mexico, in order to increase sustainability of their farms, we evaluated the extent to which these goat farms fulfill organic standards. Additionally, we revised their level of sustainability by calculating an Organic Livestock Conversion Index (OLCI) using 10 indicators and 36 variables. Information was obtained through two means: direct observation and a questionnaire applied to 119 goat farmers of six municipalities of the region. These goat farms principally consist of creole goats that graze in extensive communal rangelands and grasslands in non-arable lands with xerophytic vegetation, and their principal product is meat of adult goats. The goat farms had a moderate level of OLCI (48.0–53.6%) as well as a moderate level of sustainability (46.0–58%) for the goat farms included in this study). Five indicators showed limited compliance of the goat farms, with organic standards. Five showed a high level of compliance. The greater the OLCI value, the greater the sustainability of the goat farms. Increasing the level of compliance of the goat farms of the lower Mixteca region of Puebla, with the organic standards, which would in turn increase their level of sustainability, would require improving technical, social, environmental, and economic aspects of these farms, as well as co-responsibility in promoting sustainable organic goat farming by the different social actors involved (farmers, researchers, technical advisors, and policymakers).

Keywords: extensive livestock farming; organic conversion index; holistic analysis; semi-arid regions; Mixteca Poblana (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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