Evaluación de unidades ganaderas e índice de desarrollo de sistemas silvopastoriles en el municipio de Mezcalapa, Chiapas.

The main objective of this study was to assessment livestock units (UGs) with a development index of silvopastoral systems in Mezcalapa, Chiapas, Mexico. A questionnaire was applied to 23 producers. The characterization was carried out through the development index of silvopastoral systems (IDESSP), which was generated from the following indicators: area sown with ISPS, linear meters of live fences per hectare, and grassland area with scattered trees and shrubs per cow. The LUs were grouped into three clusters, based on the IDESSP: high, medium and low. The results of the IDESSP showed significant differences between the three clusters (P≤0.05). 100% of the LUs in the sample have grassland with scattered trees and shrubs and live fences. 100, 22 and 20% of the LUs with high, medium and low IDESSP, respectively, established pastures with fodder trees in low planting density alleys. The forage trees Gliricidia sepium and Erythrina sp are present in most of the silvopastoral modalities identified. The LUs with high IDESSP have the largest land area (P≤0.05), herd size and the highest economic income, derived from the sale of calves and milk. The grassland with scattered trees and shrubs (TSPS) is the type of land use with the largest extent in the study area. Among the ISPS, the pastures with fodder trees in low planting density alleys was the one with the largest planted area, and it was present in at least two livestock units in each of the IDESSP clusters. The study area is almost entirely covered by traditional silvopastoral modalities where endemic high-forage value tree species that can be integrated into improved silvopastoral modalities were detected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]