Espacialização, intensificação e sustentabilidade da pecuária bovina no estado de Goiás

Abstract

It is estimated that by 2050, 9.8 billion people will inhabit the land. Therefore, modern agriculture faces a complex and contradictory challenge, increasing food production between 54-98%, while decreasing its impact on natural ecosystems and increasing its sustainability. Thus, it is of fundamental importance to deepen knowledge and research on this subject in Brazil since it is an important player in the world scenario. This work aimed to analyze livestock activity in the state of Goiás (Brazil) from different perspectives, analyzing its spatial, productive, technical, and sustainable dimension. Through multicriteria analysis techniques such as: factor analysis, cluster analysis (LISA, Ward and K-media) and multiple correspondence analysis (MCA), a current picture of cattle ranching in the state was obtained. The results indicate a spatially sectorized livestock activity, with the formation of specific productive zones, two areas for beef cattle (northwest and southwest) and two for dairy farming (southeast and southwest). In addition, the significant productive increase that livestock has had over the last decade (2006-2017) with strong intensification of activity. In fact, there was a productive increase of 45% in the animal stocking rate, 49% in milk productivity per cow and 66% in animal supplementation with grains. The livestock sustainability index is in a low-middle spectrum in the state, with only 15% of municipalities classified as sustainable. It was observed that dairy activity is more sustainable and intensified than beef activity, and that infrastructure and market factors are determinant for this.