Análise da disponibilidade de alimentos volumosos em propriedades leiteiras da agricultura familiar no município de Ponte Nova/MG: um estudo multicasos

Abstract

It was intended to analyze the availability of roughages on dairy farms under familiar economics, aiming to guide the farmers as to the improvements of both financial and environmental sustainability alternatives regime in the municipality of Ponte Nova, Zona da Mata Mineira (Minas Gerais’ Zona da Mata region). During April 2016 five farmers were interviewed by utilizing a semi-structured formulary with 47 multiple-choice questions and 50 open questions, aiming to know the amount of animals, sources of feed and period of feeding of the animals. To accomplish the measurement of the feeding areas, Google Earth Pro® was utilized. The pastures found on the farms are based upon Brachiaria brizantha, Brachiaria decumbens and native grasses, managed either in continuous stocking or in rotated fenced fields. The main cultivated roughages found were forage banks of elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum), sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) and corn silage (Zea mays). It follows that 80% of the farms do not have enough feeding for all the animals over one year time.