CONSIDERATION ON MILK PRODUCTION OF THE ‘SEMI-ÁRIDO’ REGION OF PERNAMBUCO

Abstract

A comparison of milk production cost for different production systems indicate that Brazilpresents one of the lower costs, compared with the main milk producing regions of the world,mostly due to being pasture-based. Pernambuco state main milk producing area is Agreste,with yields similar to those of the most productive regions of Brazil. The production systemsof this region are based on native and cultivated pastures and forage cactus. Cultivated pastures in the area are mostly on various stages of degradation, and research has indicated their closurefor the rain season, and phosphorus and nitrogen fertilization. Forage cactus use allows reductionin concentrated feed use, allowing yields of up to 12 kg milk by cow by day, when cows are fedforage cactus, urea and a fiber source. This paper proposes a milk exploration system based onforage cactus and pastures for Pernambuco state ‘Agreste’ and ‘Sertão’ region.