Livestock intensification potential in Brazil based on agricultural census and satellite data analysis

The objective of this work was to evaluate the potential of livestock intensification in Brazil. Beef cattle stocking rates were estimated according to agricultural census data on livestock production in Brazilian municipalities. Pasture carrying capacity was obtained by combining moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (Modis) images of gross primary productivity and data on dry matter demand per animal unit (AU). Cattle stocking rate for Brazil, in 2014/2015, was 0.97 AU ha^-1, and the carrying capacity was 3.60 AU ha^-1; therefore, there is an average livestock intensification potential of 2.63 AU ha^-1. The highest average intensification potential was observed for the Southern region (3.62 AU ha^-1), and the lowest for the Northern (2.13 AU ha^-1) and Northeastern regions (2.22 AU ha^-1). It is possible to estimate cattle stocking rate, pasture carrying capacity, and potential of livestock intensification by integrating data on agricultural census and remote sensing.

Index terms:
Brazilian pasturelands; cattle stocking rate; gross primary productivity; livestock intensification; Modis GPP; pasture carrying capacity

Authorship

Arielle Elias Arantes

Universidade Federal de Goiás, Laboratório de Processamento de Imagens e Geoprocessamento, Campus II Samambaia, Caixa Postal 131, CEP 74001-970 Goiânia, GO, Brazil. E-mail: aearantes@gmail.com, laerte@ufg.br Universidade Federal de GoiásBrazilGoiânia, GO, BrazilUniversidade Federal de Goiás, Laboratório de Processamento de Imagens e Geoprocessamento, Campus II Samambaia, Caixa Postal 131, CEP 74001-970 Goiânia, GO, Brazil. E-mail: aearantes@gmail.com, laerte@ufg.br

Victor Rezende de Moreira Couto

Universidade Federal de Goiás, Escola de Veterinária e Zootecnia, Campus Samambaia, Avenida Esperança, s/no, Campus Universitário, CEP 74690-900 Goiânia, GO, Brazil. E-mail: victorzootecnista@ufg.brUniversidade Federal de GoiásBrazilGoiânia, GO, BrazilUniversidade Federal de Goiás, Escola de Veterinária e Zootecnia, Campus Samambaia, Avenida Esperança, s/no, Campus Universitário, CEP 74690-900 Goiânia, GO, Brazil. E-mail: victorzootecnista@ufg.br

Edson Eyji Sano

Embrapa Cerrados, BR-020, Km 18, CEP 73301-970 Planaltina, DF, Brazil. E-mail: edson.sano@embrapa.brEmbrapa CerradosBrazilPlanaltina, DF, BrazilEmbrapa Cerrados, BR-020, Km 18, CEP 73301-970 Planaltina, DF, Brazil. E-mail: edson.sano@embrapa.br

Laerte Guimarães Ferreira

SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Figures

Figures (4)

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Figure 1.
Flowchart for the estimation of cattle stocking rates and pasture carrying capacities in Brazilian municipalities. AU, animal unit; DM, dry matter; and GPP, gross primary productivity.

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Figure 2.
Cattle stocking rate (animal unit per hectare) in the Brazilian cultivated pastures in 2015. Regions: CW, Center-West; N, North; NE, Northeast; SE, Southeast; and S, South. States and federal district: RO, Rondônia; AC, Acre; AM, Amazonas; RR, Roraima; PA, Pará; AP, Amapá; MA, Maranhão; PI, Piauí; CE, Ceará; RN, Rio Grande do Norte; PB, Paraíba; PE, Pernambuco; AL, Alagoas; SE, Sergipe; BA, Bahia; MG, Minas Gerais; ES, Espírito Santo; RJ, Rio de Janeiro; SP, São Paulo; PR, Paraná; SC, Santa Catarina; RS, Rio Grande do Sul; MS, Mato Grosso do Sul; MT, Mato Grosso; GO, Goiás; TO, Tocantins; and DF, Distrito Federal. Map in shapefile format is available at: http://maps.lapig.iesa.ufg.br/?layers=pa_br_bovinos_real_250_2017_lapig.

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Figure 3.
Potential carrying capacities (animal unit per hectare) of Brazilian pasturelands. Regions: CW, Center-West; N, North; NE, Northeast; SE, Southeast; and S, South. States and federal district: RO, Rondônia; AC, Acre; AM, Amazonas; RR, Roraima; PA, Pará; AP, Amapá; MA, Maranhão; PI, Piauí; CE, Ceará; RN, Rio Grande do Norte; PB, Paraíba; PE, Pernambuco; AL, Alagoas; SE, Sergipe; BA, Bahia; MG, Minas Gerais; ES, Espírito Santo; RJ, Rio de Janeiro; SP, São Paulo; PR, Paraná; SC, Santa Catarina; RS, Rio Grande do Sul; MS, Mato Grosso do Sul; MT, Mato Grosso; GO, Goiás; TO, Tocantins; and DF, Distrito Federal. Map in shapefile format is available at: http://maps.lapig.iesa.ufg.br/?layers=pa_br_capacidade_suporte_pastagem_250_2017_lapig.

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Figure 4.
Potential of livestock intensification (animal unit per hectare) of Brazilian pasturelands. Regions: CW, Center-West; N, North; NE, Northeast; SE, Southeast; and S, South. States and federal district: RO, Rondônia; AC, Acre; AM, Amazonas; RR, Roraima; PA, Pará; AP, Amapá; MA, Maranhão; PI, Piauí; CE, Ceará; RN, Rio Grande do Norte; PB, Paraíba; PE, Pernambuco; AL, Alagoas; SE, Sergipe; BA, Bahia; MG, Minas Gerais; ES, Espírito Santo; RJ, Rio de Janeiro; SP, São Paulo; PR, Paraná; SC, Santa Catarina; RS, Rio Grande do Sul; MS, Mato Grosso do Sul; MT, Mato Grosso; GO, Goiás; TO, Tocantins; and DF, Distrito Federal. Map in shapefile format is available at: http://maps.lapig.iesa.ufg.br/?layers=pa_br_potencial_intensificacao_250_2017_lapig.

Figure 1. Flowchart for the estimation of cattle stocking rates and pasture carrying capacities in Brazilian municipalities. AU, animal unit; DM, dry matter; and GPP, gross primary productivity.

Figure 2. Cattle stocking rate (animal unit per hectare) in the Brazilian cultivated pastures in 2015. Regions: CW, Center-West; N, North; NE, Northeast; SE, Southeast; and S, South. States and federal district: RO, Rondônia; AC, Acre; AM, Amazonas; RR, Roraima; PA, Pará; AP, Amapá; MA, Maranhão; PI, Piauí; CE, Ceará; RN, Rio Grande do Norte; PB, Paraíba; PE, Pernambuco; AL, Alagoas; SE, Sergipe; BA, Bahia; MG, Minas Gerais; ES, Espírito Santo; RJ, Rio de Janeiro; SP, São Paulo; PR, Paraná; SC, Santa Catarina; RS, Rio Grande do Sul; MS, Mato Grosso do Sul; MT, Mato Grosso; GO, Goiás; TO, Tocantins; and DF, Distrito Federal. Map in shapefile format is available at: http://maps.lapig.iesa.ufg.br/?layers=pa_br_bovinos_real_250_2017_lapig.

Figure 3. Potential carrying capacities (animal unit per hectare) of Brazilian pasturelands. Regions: CW, Center-West; N, North; NE, Northeast; SE, Southeast; and S, South. States and federal district: RO, Rondônia; AC, Acre; AM, Amazonas; RR, Roraima; PA, Pará; AP, Amapá; MA, Maranhão; PI, Piauí; CE, Ceará; RN, Rio Grande do Norte; PB, Paraíba; PE, Pernambuco; AL, Alagoas; SE, Sergipe; BA, Bahia; MG, Minas Gerais; ES, Espírito Santo; RJ, Rio de Janeiro; SP, São Paulo; PR, Paraná; SC, Santa Catarina; RS, Rio Grande do Sul; MS, Mato Grosso do Sul; MT, Mato Grosso; GO, Goiás; TO, Tocantins; and DF, Distrito Federal. Map in shapefile format is available at: http://maps.lapig.iesa.ufg.br/?layers=pa_br_capacidade_suporte_pastagem_250_2017_lapig.

Figure 4. Potential of livestock intensification (animal unit per hectare) of Brazilian pasturelands. Regions: CW, Center-West; N, North; NE, Northeast; SE, Southeast; and S, South. States and federal district: RO, Rondônia; AC, Acre; AM, Amazonas; RR, Roraima; PA, Pará; AP, Amapá; MA, Maranhão; PI, Piauí; CE, Ceará; RN, Rio Grande do Norte; PB, Paraíba; PE, Pernambuco; AL, Alagoas; SE, Sergipe; BA, Bahia; MG, Minas Gerais; ES, Espírito Santo; RJ, Rio de Janeiro; SP, São Paulo; PR, Paraná; SC, Santa Catarina; RS, Rio Grande do Sul; MS, Mato Grosso do Sul; MT, Mato Grosso; GO, Goiás; TO, Tocantins; and DF, Distrito Federal. Map in shapefile format is available at: http://maps.lapig.iesa.ufg.br/?layers=pa_br_potencial_intensificacao_250_2017_lapig.

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Livestock intensification potential in Brazil based on agricultural census and satellite data analysis

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