Mario Reinoso Pérez
Central University “Marta Abreu†of Las Villas, Cuba
Title: A-SLPT- Agroforestry: A viable alternative to achieve sustainable livestock production in the Tropics
Biography
Biography: Mario Reinoso Pérez
Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to discuss the potentialities of Agroforestry for a sustainable livestock production, with emphasis on those modalities where tree resources provide goods and services, whether in woodlands or off-forest (trees outside forest) agroecosystems, under Cuban conditions. Findings come from on-farm research conducted by several Cuban institutions and carried out in different degraded agroecosystems (state-owned and –managed farms) devoted to milk, beef and timber production. Silvopastoral systems in grass-legume associations, legume protein banks and forest/fruit plantations together with alley cropping for forage production have been the most studied. All these agroforestry alternatives have in common: (i) not use of irrigation and chemical fertilizers, (ii) grazing with different number of paddocks and stocking rate, and (iii) the use local genotypes of small and large ruminants. Agroforestry has immense potential to support animal feeding and productivity. Many are long-term research results and many more are local experiences that have been developed for over 30 years, not only in Cuba but also en Africa, South Asia and Latin America. Unfortunately, their spread has not been satisfactory and, consequently, the potential of Agroforestry has not been effectively exploited. Agroforestry systems exemplify major opportunities for productivity enhancement, especially with ruminant livestock. The nature of livestock trees interactions is variable and the benefits of the positive effects are not yet recognized by farmers, technician, extension workers and policy makers. However, Agroforestry constitute a viable alternative to achieve sustainable livestock production.