Potential for organic conversion and energy efficiency of conventional livestock production in a humid tropical region of Mexico

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Organic livestock production uses low levels of external inputs and less fossil fuel than does conventional livestock production, and therefore it is more energy efficient, reduces contamination, provides healthy food and ecosystem services, and contributes to reducing and adapting to climate change. This article characterizes livestock production and evaluates the potential and limitations of organic conversion and the energy efficiency of conventional dual purpose (milk and meat) cattle production in a humid tropical region of Chiapas, Mexico. Our analysis indicates that for the Livestock Production Units (LPU) of the study region, the greater the organic livestock conversion index (OLCI, 0-100%), the lower the values for herd size, stocking rate, total feed supplement, annual cost of feed purchased for cattle, and production cost per cow; by contrast, those LPU with greater OLCI have greater economic efficiency. Furthermore, the greater the OLCI, the greater the values of the following indicators: Feeding management, Sustainable grassland management, Ecological weed control in grasses and crops, Veterinary prevention and care, Food safety, and Ecological farm management. A direct relationship exists between the potential for organic conversion (>OLCI) and energy and economic efficiency. Meanwhile, an inverse relationship was found between OLCI and energy efficiency on the one hand, and - on the other - use of direct and indirect energy, total energy input, energy output, and number of people that could be fed with the energy from milk and meat produced. Converting LPU to organic production and increasing their energy efficiency depends on farmers further developing their abilities to manage sustainable agricultural systems through advisory, technical assistance, and permanent financial support. eng