Limiting factors of the strategic business unit in the small livestock farming of the subhumid tropics of Michoacan, Mexico

Small livestock farming business (PEG) has been unproductive for decades, despite both government and research institutions efforts to reactivate them. Hence, the aim of this research was to evaluate the limiting factors of the strategic business unit (UEN) (cows in production) of the PEG of the Michoacan subhumid tropic to maximize its scarce resources through the production and sale of weaned calves.year(-1) (PVBD). A questionnaire was applied to 101 PEG of that region; The questionnaire consisted of 70 questions distributed in seven dimensions, with options of response.dimension(-1). The information was analyzed using Principal Component Analysis (ACP). It was found that the number of cows that makes up the UEN of the PEG was approximate to 29; the PBVD was approximate to 16 calves. Therefore, the surface for the maintenance of livestock required approximate to 69 hectares (Ha). The limitations of UEN to increase its size were found in components 7 and 8 (age of the calf at weaning and genotype of the sire, respectively), which contributed with -3.42 and -1.38 cows, respectively (P<0.05). The area of the PEG increase (P<0.05) due to the effects of days open and price of weaned calves (5.32 Ha); and decrease (P<0.05) if the cattle diet is supplemented with minerals (-19.15 Ha). PVBD is limited by the variable counseling (P<0.05): -1.34 calves. The opportunity to maximize resources of the PEG focuses on advice in: nutrition, reproduction and genetics to reduce days open.cow-1 and on the efficient use of the surface (Ha) available for cattle. This enables the UEN to grow and the PVBD to increase.