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Sustainable milk and beef production in Nicaragua: actions and
opportunities for an inclusive value chain
• Major pillar of economy (36% of agricultural exports)
• Increasing demand
• Adapted disease resistant breeds/crosses
• Extensive, low productivity
• Soil degradation and deforestation
• 63% of agriculture GHG emissions
Cattle Sector in Nicaragua
0
1
2
3
4
5
Brown Swiss Brahman Holstein
average milk production per breed
(kg/cow/day)
Dry Season
Rainy Season
• Increased Productivity
• Milk 700 kg 1400 kg/cow/yr (+100%)
• Increased live weight gain (+100%)
• Lower age at first calving (-33%)
• Reduced calving interval (-20%)
• Socio-economic intensification
• More diverse ecosystems
• Reduced ecological footprint
• Reduced GHG emissions (-50%)
Perspectives
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
Extensive Silvopastoral Semi-intensive
greenhouse gas emissions reduce
(kg CO2 equivalent/kg milk)
Soil-Indirect N2O
Soil-Direct N2O
Manure-Indirect N2O
Manure-Direct N2O
Manure-Methane
Enteric fermentation-
Methane
-
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
Extensive Silvopastoral Semi-intensive
milk production increases
(kg milk/farm)
• Farmers
• Cooperatives
• Solidaridad Network
• National Agricultural
University
• Heifer International
• Regional Research Institute
CATIE
Partners
Mapping of genetics
Brown Swiss Cross
Brown Swiss >95%
Brahman Cross
Brahman >95%
Holstein Cross
Holstein >95%
Jersey
Simmental
Other
Unknown
Farmer Field Schools
+ Model Farms
Silvopastoral Systems Improved Forages Reinforcement of
institutions and policies
Rein van der Hoek1, Martin Mena1, Roldan Corrales2, Alejandra Mora1, Jeanne Boekhorst3, Julie Ojango4
1International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT); 2Universidad Nacional Agraria (UNA); 3Wageningen University and Research; 4International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)
Further needed
• Emphasis on integrated pasture systems
• Silvopastoral systems
• Dry season feeding (including conservation techniques)
• Good management practices
• Territorial learning alliances
Funding by Austrian Development Cooperation (ADA) and the Farmer Support Programme of the Netherlands Government is gratefully acknowledged.
Sustainable intensification:
integration of improved forages
• Genetic intensification: superior
cultivars
• Ecological intensification: improved
agro-ecological practices
• Socio-economic intensification:
reinforced institutions and policies
LivestockPlus
Nicaragua dual purpose cattle value chain
part of CRP Livestock and Fish
• Investments for cooperatives and small dairy/meat
processing enterprises
• Payment for Ecosystem Services, private sector
involvement