Socioeconomic and productive characteristics of dual purpose farms based on agrosilvopastoral systems in subtropical highlands of central Mexico

Agrosilvopastoral systems that integrate crops, pastures, trees and shrubs are seen as a way forward to meet future needs for food, feed, fuel, and other products, as well as for providing environmental and social benefits. Cattle production systems in the tropical and subtropical areas of Mexico have a dual-purpose (milk and beef) objective in agrosilvopastoral systems that need to improve the production of goods, as well as non-productive outputs like environmental services, enhancing their sustainability. The aim of this study was to characterise the socioeconomic, and productive characteristics of dual purpose farms based on agrosilvopastoral systems (ASPS), in a subtropical region in the southern highlands of central Mexico, to contribute in the understanding of how these ASPS operate and their differences. Forty-seven farmers answered a semi-structured questionnaire to identify aspects of farm management, structure, and land use; as well as technical and economic aspects. Information was analysed using factorial analysis of principal components, in order to reduce information, and subsequently cluster analysis that included nine variables resulting into four groups of farms differentiated by structure, size, management and productive orientation. Productive orientation of the farms was from the activity from which farms obtained most of their incomes. The four groups were beef production oriented (BPO) 46.81%, milk production oriented (MPO) 23.40%, pure breed weaned calves (PBWC) 17.02%, and traditional dual-purpose (TDP) 12.77%. Characterization of agrosilvopastoral farms identified main differences and characteristics, as well as the presence and use of trees and shrubs by farmers and cattle.