Assistência técnica e gerencial a criadores de bovinos leiteiros no estado da Paraiba

Abstract

The dairy cattle industry in the Northeast region of Brazil holds significant economic importance, being one of the primary goods generated by the northeastern economy. Although dairy producers have basic knowledge about their businesses, they often require technical assistance to optimize production. Based on this, the present study aimed to conduct a descriptive survey of dairy cattle producers in the Agreste region of Paraíba. To achieve this, questionnaires were administered to property owners to collect information regarding the characteristics of the farms, milk production methods, and other aspects such as property size, management practices, and more. The questionnaire analyzed aspects such as property size, type of labor employed, cattle farming methods, years of experience, among other issues. The data were compiled in Excel and transformed into charts for better interpretation. Most properties range in size from 10 to 50 hectares, with family labor being employed. Cattle farming is conducted under a semi-extensive system, and most producers milk the cows manually. Furthermore, a significant portion of respondents (58.8%) cultivate forage cactus for the nutritional supplementation of their cattle. Regarding animal reproduction management methods, the majority reported that reproduction is managed through natural breeding, with no use of artificial insemination. From the questionnaires, which were administered during an internship at ATeG, a pilot project by Senar, it was possible not only to achieve professional growth but also to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by dairy cattle producers in the agreste region of Paraíba.