Multivariate classification of livestock production systems in Mexico

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Animal Science
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Growing demand for animal products is reshaping Mexico's Livestock Production Systems (LPS).
• Global trade impacts producer competitiveness and raises environmental concerns regarding natural resource use.
• Understanding LPS variations is crucial for enhancing agricultural sustainability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the types and distribution of Livestock Production Systems (LPS) in Mexico.
• To identify key factors influencing these production systems.
• To provide a quantitative synthesis for informed decision-making.

Main Methods:

• Developed a conceptual model for cattle, sheep, goat, and pig production systems.
• Gathered input variables from government and official data sources.
• Applied Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical Cluster on Principal Components (HCPC) for classification.

Main Results:

• Identified four distinct Livestock Production System (LPS) profiles across Mexico's 32 states.
• Confirmed consistency with traditional LPS typologies.
• Observed technological adoption and enterprise integration, particularly in cattle and pig systems.
• Found systemic heterogeneity, with less developed states showing greater production competitiveness differences.

Conclusions:

• This study provides the first quantitative synthesis of Mexican Livestock Production Systems (LPS).
• Regional heterogeneity and evolving production dynamics necessitate further investigation.
• Understanding LPS diversification factors is key for sustainable agricultural development.