A conceptual model of cow-calf systems functioning on native grasslands in a subtropical region

Cow-calf systems utilise grazing of native grasslands for beef cattle propagation and constitute the principal livestock activity in the Pampas and Campos areas. Cow-calf system sustainability is questioned because of their low production levels and negative environmental impact. Ecological intensification has been proposed as a way out that constitutes an alternative to dominant discourses based on increasing external-input use. There is, however, a considerable gap between the availability of scientific knowledge to promote the ecological intensification of cow-calf systems and farmers' practices. This gap between scientific knowledge availability and farmers' practices can be made explicit, and its consequences for systems performance can be explored through a conceptual model. Conceptual models are tools to build a systems view of the interactions among the production system's state variables, farm management, and resulting system performance. In this paper, we develop a conceptual model of cow-calf systems on native grasslands of the Pampas and Campos regions to support the diagnosis and redesign of farm systems towards ecological intensification. We apply the conceptual model to analyse cow-calf systems in Uruguay, drawing on a survey among 250 Uruguayan livestock farmers. Using the model, we show that in Uruguay, the level of implementation of strategic, tactical, and decision-supporting techniques is low. Consequently, most farms have poor control of the grazing intensity and timing of main events in the production cycle. This results in ample room to improve the productive and environmental performance of most cow-calf farms in Uruguay. We distinguished three broad types of cow-calf systems based on the degree of implementation of techniques, the evolution of state variables throughout the year, and productive indicators. These types imply different departure points and strategies for a sustainability transition process. The conceptual model designed in this paper may support the cow-calf systems sustainability transition in the context of co-innovation processes by aiding the interactive diagnosis and redesign of farm systems.