CHARACTERIZATION OF PRODUCTION SYSTEMS AND PURPOSES OF BEEF CATTLE FARMING IN COROATÁ, MARANHÃO

Abstract

This study aimed to characterize the production systems and purposes of beef cattle farming in local rural communities. The research, both qualitative and quantitative in nature, was conducted with producers from the Baixo and Alpercata communities through semi-structured interviews and the application of questionnaires. The data revealed that 50% of producers use the extensive system and 50% use the semi-intensive system, with no use of the intensive system, reflecting technical and financial limitations. The main purpose of cattle farming is reproduction (70%), identified as a strategy to gradually maintain and expand the herd and ensure emergency income. Challenges such as pasture scarcity, the cost of feed supplementation, conflicts among animals, and gender barriers were also highlighted. The absence of purposes such as slaughter or the sale of calves indicates a more traditional and subsistence-oriented production profile. The study concludes that public policies should prioritize technical training, access to credit, the promotion of gender equity, and the encouragement of the adoption of accessible technologies to sustainably strengthen regional beef cattle farming.