LIVESTOCK AND AGROECOLOGY IN BRAZIL

Abstract

Animal production all over the world has been practiced in three different systems; conventional, plain air (caipira, colonial and free range systems) and agroecological (organic, biological, biodinamic, natural, sustainable and regenerative systems). In Brazil, the conventional animal production systems for beef cattle, dairy cattle, sheep, goats, swine and poultry are directed towards high productivity (outputs/inputs/time), which has placed the country among the main exporters, but has continuosly excluded producers from the activity. Therefore plain air and agroecological productions, are increasing mainly among the groups of people concerned with animal and planet welfare as a whole. All three types of production are concerned with quality of the products offered and are becoming certified. The traceability of the information used in the production of every product must be continuosly examined and checked along the way, which is possible through the use of daily data recording (working sheet). The growing consciousness of the population about the polemical ways of raising animals will push the agroecological production from a market niche to the principal market in Brazil and in the world. When that happen the prices will adjust itself based on the supply/demand law.