Herbivores in the agro-ecosystems of Latin America
Ungulates, or hoofed mammals, comprise one of the most successful and diverse groups of large mammals alive today, having colonized nearly every habitat on all continents either naturally or by human introduction except Antarctica. Within ungulates ruminants comprise nearly all the species that huma...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Text |
| Language: | English |
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| Online Access: | http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.575.6092 http://www.macaulay.ac.uk/macs/Publications/Bonacicherbivores.pdf |
| Summary: | Ungulates, or hoofed mammals, comprise one of the most successful and diverse groups of large mammals alive today, having colonized nearly every habitat on all continents either naturally or by human introduction except Antarctica. Within ungulates ruminants comprise nearly all the species that humans use as livestock. Livestock production performs numerous functions in agricultural systems of the world. They produce meat and milk, generate cash income for rural and urban populations, provide traction and transport, and produce value-added goods that can have multiplier effects and create a need for a variety of services. Humans have relied heavily upon this order, which has provided us with many domesticated species including cattle, pigs, goats, and sheep. In Latin America livestock shares ecosystems with wild ungulates and little attention has been devoted to their ecological importance and as protein source for local people. The overall trend across Latin America is to promote the replacement of wild ungulates by domestic and mostly European livestock. In this paper we aim to integrate in a holistic perspective the current situation of both groups of species linking livestock production with wild ungulates conservation. The onset of a new millennium sets new challenges for Latin America with a major challenge which is how to produce food and revenues to people without eroding local biodiversity. Indeed, sustainable livestock production must conserve the living mesh (grassland and wildlife) that provides ecosystem services and sustainability. |
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