September 18, 2023

As part of Expo Prado 2023, the SPF organized a talk for different stakeholders involved in livestock and forestry activities to discuss the challenges of livestock health on forest lands

As representatives of the Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries, Drs. Ximena Gómez and Marcelo Cortés focused their presentation on the tick control campaign, discussing the current regulatory framework, the epidemiological situation and its evolution at the national level, field work and key measures and points for the control of the parasite.

They highlighted the significant level of resistance to various active ingredients that has been detected, the importance of understanding the biological cycle and persistence of eggs and larvae in pasture, and various management measures that should be observed to achieve success in combating the pest, both in forest and non-forest areas.

Agricultural Engineer Nicolás Barú and Dr. Gonzalo Pereyra (from the company CONSUR) spoke about their experiences in the management of livestock systems associated with forestry, in different areas of the country, with different types of plantations and with different health statuses.

From their experience of more than 20 years developing livestock production on forest lands with different species and production objectives, they highlighted the particularities, advantages, disadvantages and myths that surround this modality.

Advantages mentioned included the availability of shade for livestock (relevant in summer), greater water availability per head due to managing a smaller allocation than in a field without trees, good perimeter fencing, and better access to machinery and infrastructure than in other areas without plantations.

They recognized as an asset the long-term relationships established with the owners of the forest plantations, and the propensity to comply with standards and protocols aimed at environmental protection and sustainability.

They also discussed what they consider relative weaknesses, which they listed as: weed infestation and a tendency towards more fibrous plant species, generally poorly maintained livestock facilities, difficulties in keeping paddocks closed in some situations (planting, harvesting and transport), greater difficulties in moving and gathering herds, decreased weaning percentages, increased percentage of bulls needed and risks of poisoning by Bocopa, which in addition to possible losses due to mortality, generates a problem of lack of grazing options.

They dismissed as myths the comments that attribute less interest in animal welfare to producers who raise livestock in forested areas. According to them, anyone who owns livestock (on any land) strives to make the best possible profit, and therefore does not neglect their animals. Because of this, they do not believe there is any disregard for sanitary regulations, as that would contradict the intended objective.

Livestock farming on forest lands is not the source of health problems; rather, the problems are those that generally exist in the different areas, and although there are relatively long periods (at the beginning of the plantation, or post-harvest), when there is no livestock, the problems reappear when the livestock is reintroduced.

They highlighted that there is a great diversity of forest properties, that there are some costs and risks that increase due to the difficulties of traveling and gathering livestock, and considered it very important to evaluate the conditions of each property prior to entering.

The last speaker at the conference was Eng. Marcelo Ginella from UPM, who presented his vision from the side of companies that provide grazing to different producers and companies, generally neighbors of their properties.

He emphasized the importance of viewing the business from the angle of complementarity, based on open communication and in pursuit of similar goals.

With the livestock producer at the center, he considered that all actors involved, both public and private, must work to achieve the proposed objectives in the fastest and most satisfactory way possible for all.

At the start of this day, the Forest Fire Protection Operation (O-PAIF) made a series of points regarding the importance of preventing forest fires, events with serious consequences for both forests and livestock (due to the elimination of forage).