Caracterização de produtores e da pecuária leiteira em Nova Xavantina/MT

The milk production chain is important for Brazilian agribusiness,being responsible for the significant number of labor, both family and hired.The aim of this study was to characterize the aspects related to dairy cattlehandling, the associations and the socioeconomic conditions of milkproducers from Nova Xavantinta-MT. As a research instrument,questionnaires and open interviews with fifteen local producers and a politicalleader from the zone were conducted between April and June 2011. It wasfound that cattle's ranching is the main source of income of the majority ofsurveyed producers that have area less than 50 hectares, which has in thepasture the main food source for animals. The averageon ranged from 800to 15,000 liters per month, mos manufacturers make use of manual milkingand do not make use of artificial insemination. More than 50% of farmershave no way to store milk and only 20% have cooling tanks. The 60% offarmers commercialize the milk to the dairy located in the city, and 40%commercialize the milk in the informal market. It was found furtherdivergence between farmers and forward political leadership to the viabilityof the association of milk producers of New Xavantina-MT milk.