Characterization of dairy cattle production systems in two micro-watersheds of the Peruvian Amazonian Andes

The Peruvian Andean Amazon is home to small-scale dairy livestock production that sustains numerous rural families, but whose heterogeneity complicates the design of targeted interventions. Characterizing and comparing production systems according to their similarities and differences represents an essential step to guide development policies. This study aimed to characterize and compare the dairy cattle production systems of two micro-watersheds in the Amazonas Region, Peru (Molinopampa and Pomacochas), to identify the patterns that differentiate their productive systems. A structured survey was administered to 621 producers, and the data were analyzed through comparison tests and multivariate analyses organized by thematic affinity. The results showed that the differences between the two micro-watersheds were primarily concentrated in milk marketing and in the breed composition of the herds, rather than in their production structure. The most pronounced contrast corresponded to milk price, which was higher in Pomacochas. Molinopampa was characterized by a higher proportion of female producers, greater use of concentrate feed and vaccination with both vaccines, a predominance of Brown Swiss cattle, and milk sales through associations or cooperatives, as well as direct sales or self-consumption. Pomacochas was distinguished by its integration with a processing company, a higher milk price, and higher perceived profitability. Self-reported mastitis was more frequent in Molinopampa, whereas piroplasmosis did not differ significantly between micro-watersheds. Both micro-watersheds shared a low deworming coverage, the perception of high operating costs, and limited coverage of technical assistance, which reached less than 13% of the producers. These findings show that both micro-watersheds may require territorially differentiated intervention strategies and provide a basis for designing more relevant dairy development policies in the Peruvian Andean Amazon.