Several Breeders within the Bonsmara cattle breeders’ association have been selecting for polledness otherwise known as the trait for the genetic absence of horns. There are less costs associated with polled animals, as they require less management input than horned animals. International stud breeders are willing to pay a premium for Bonsmara stud animals certified as homozygous polled, and Bonsmara breeders therefore requested a study for the identification of polled status, using DNA markers. Several microsatellite markers were tested in a linkage analysis on a number of Bonsmara families originating from three polled herds. All of the markers tested in the final Twopoint linkage analysis showed significant linkage with the polled trait. This indicates that the current model proposed for the gene action of polledness is applicable to the Bonsmara breed. Furthermore, by using the Transmission disequilibrium test (TDT), an allele of one of these microsatellites was found to be strongly associated with the polled trait. Due to an inherent lack of phase-known, three-generation families, tracing this allele through the test pedigrees to determine polled status was not possible. These results indicate that phase-known family data must be available so that microsatellite markers linked to the Polled trait can be traced visually to differentiate homozygote polled animals from heterozygote polled animals. Microsatellite markers are a tool that can add additional information in the conclusive determination of Polled status, but cannot as yet be used in isolation to test for polledness in the South African Bonsmara breed. Copyright / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Animal and Wildlife Sciences / unrestricted

The present study was a longitudinal analysis of the information needs of Red Angus cattle breeders and their use of networked information services. It was based on two surveys. The first, conducted in 1995--96, polled all 1067 ranches of the Red Angus Association of America. Responses from 192 Red Angus breeders were used to determine the value of different information types and to evaluate perceptions of the greatest barriers to the adoption of network information services. The second survey, mailed to 41 Red Angus breeders in 1998, focused on early adopters and likely users of network services. Responses from 15 breeders were used to evaluate perceptions of the greatest barriers to the effective use of Web-based information services.

Boran cattle provide livelihood to thousands of households in the arid and semi arid lands of Kenya. The Kenya Boran cattle breeders’ society (KBCBS) is actively involved in the improvement of the breed. Due to their superior adaptive and productive traits in comparison to other indigenous breeds of cattle, they have also become a popular choice for breeders in Eastern and Southern Africa. Their continued genetic improvement through progeny and performance testing is critical and accurate pedigree records are paramount. Pedigree records of four stud herds were evaluated for accuracy using 11 microsatellite markers on 178 samples. The microsatellite markers had a combined probability of exclusion (CPE) of 0.9997. The dam misidentification rate was 0 to 5% and that of the sires ranged from 4.3 to 80% between the four stud herds. 4,456 Boran pedigree records from Kenya stud book for the four participating stud herds were analysed for inbreeding. The average generation interval was 6.8 years and the estimated inbreeding coefficient was unexpectedly low (0.0023), probably due to incomplete records. The high rate of mispaternity will lead to low response to selection and increased inbreeding. The use of DNA markers for parentage assignment will improve the accuracy of the pedigree records. This will enhance the accuracy of selection, increase the rate of genetic gain and improve effective monitoring of inbreeding. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Animal and Wildlife Sciences / unrestricted

The production environment is known to have a large influence on extensively managed beef cows. A better understanding of the relationship between the beef cow and her environment should be useful in the pursuit of improving beef cow efficiency. The influence of the production environment on the efficiency of extensively managed Bonsmara cows was investigated through a series of research objectives. It was found that VEGMAP’s bioregion classification system can be used to describe the South African beef production regions. The environmental characteristics with the potential to influence beef cow efficiency were identified as temperature, rainfall, cation exchange capacity, soil pH, soil organic carbon, soil P and grazing capacity. A dataset was created that contains the historical cow production records for every Bonsmara breeder. GIS tools were then used to link the cow production records with the production region in which the farm is located, as well as the environmental characteristics for that specific location. The combined dataset was then statistically analysed to investigate the research objectives. The influence of the geographic location, production region and breeder on Bonsmara production traits was investigated by cluster analysis and ANOVA. Results from ANOVA indicate that production region has a statistically significant (p < 0.05) influence on production traits. The influence of the breeders on the same production traits was, however, statistically much larger (p < 0.0001) than production region. Bonsmara production traits are therefore influenced to a greater extent by the breeders rather than production environment. Stepwise regression analysis was used to determine the influence of the combined environment on production traits. The combined environment has a statistically significant (p < 0.0001) influence on all the production traits. The results indicate that the extent of the influence of the environment on production change through the growth curve. The environment’s influence was the greatest at weaning (9%) and yearling age (10%). Bonsmara weaning and yearling weights therefore show the largest potential for manipulation through management. The influence of individual environmental characteristics on all the Bonsmara cow production traits was then investigated by the same stepwise regression analysis. Most of the environmental characteristics were found to have a statistically significant (p < 0.0001) influence on the production traits. Rainfall and temperature had the largest influence on Bonsmara production traits. The negative influence of rainfall was attributed to the influence of rainfall on the quality of the grazing. The influence of temperature on production traits was small. The small negative influence of temperature could indicate that Bonsmara cows are well adapted to the main South African beef production regions. Finally, the relationship between Bonsmara cow size and reproduction was investigated by linear regression analysis. Results indicate that larger Bonsmara cows are to some extent more reproductive than smaller cows. The study confirmed that production environment influences beef cow efficiency. Bonsmara breeders however have a much larger influence on the efficiency of their cows through the implementation of management practices and breeding objectives. / Dissertation (MSc(Agric))--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Animal and Wildlife Sciences / unrestricted

Esta tese objetiva investigar a gestão local e as características significativas do desenvolvimento rural em comunidades de pecuaristas familiares nos municípios de São Jerônimo, Butiá e arredores, região Centro Sul do RS. Nesta tese, as dinâmicas do desenvolvimento rural na pecuária familiar são compreendidas como movimentos de transição ou contracorrente à marcha de consolidação e aprofundamento da agricultura convencional assentada em parâmetros do paradigma técnico-científico moderno. Na realidade estudada os pecuaristas familiares foram elevados da posição de marginalizados e periféricos à condição de segmento central na rede rural de desenvolvimento, reavaliados pela sua importância social, ambiental e econômica na relação que estabelecem com a sociedade local e regional, e com os ecossistemas campestres riograndenses, atualmente fortemente impactados por processos de degradação. Entendendo o DR como um movimento transicional e contracorrente esta tese utiliza componentes analítico-metodológicos fornecidos pela Perspectiva Multinível-PMN, em especial a ferramenta Gestão Estratégica de Nicho-GEN, e os elementos para pensar o desenvolvimento rural contemporâneo, tais como o seu caráter multinível, a noção de rede rural multidimensional, a multifuncionalidade da agricultura e o papel dos agricultores camponeses. Os procedimentos metodológicos são realizados através de revisão bibliográfica, coleta de dados secundários, entrevistas semi-estruturadas com informantes-chave e observação participante da paisagem rural, unidades produtivas, e das práticas e trajetórias, incluindo registro fotográfico. O referencial teórico utilizado fornece aportes para tratar a experiência local na perspectiva de uma dinâmica de DR que ocorre no nível micro, metodologicamente definida como um espaço protegido de desenvolvimento da pecuária familiar, posicionada sob condicionantes estruturais mais amplos e influentes compostos pelos regimes sociotécnicos prevalentes e paisagens sociotécnicas. Apesar da consolidação e maior estruturação dos níveis elevados, existe interdependência e mutua interação entre o que acontece nos níveis micro e macro. Quanto à gestão identificam-se três alinhamentos principais na rede rural: infraestrutura e qualidade de vida; melhoria genética dos animais e do manejo do campo e dos rebanhos; e agregação de valor e governabilidade dos mercados. Avalia-se que apesar dos alinhamentos notáveis existem dissensos e incongruências. Mesmo nos alinhamentos de estratégias e expectativas mais vigorosos que ocorrem em melhoramento genéticos dos ovinos e bovinos; criação de novos mercados; e na percepção do campo nativo como um recurso valioso, produtivo e barato, acontecem incongruências importantes. As transformações mais marcantes do DR são identificadas como: novidades; práticas e trajetórias em governabilidade dos mercados; aspectos atinentes à sustentabilidade e endogeneidade; e questões relativas à dimensão social da rede rural. Nesta tese, os agricultores familiares que se dedicam à pecuária são avaliados como capazes de conciliar de maneira proveitosa a conservação e o uso sustentável dos recursos forrageiros nativos, enfatizando o caráter multifuncional dos seus estilos de agricultura baseados, primordialmente, em recursos da natureza, em co-produção e co-evolução. Apesar desta destacada característica positiva, deficiências em capacitação, práticas de manejo e intensificação no emprego de alguns insumos exógenos industriais modernos impedem que estes impactos positivos sejam mais fortes sobre o ambiente e sociedade. No final, são tecidas considerações sobre possíveis estratégias e políticas públicas para o aprimoramento da experiência local, as quais se esperam possam servir também em outros casos e situações. / This thesis aims to investigate local management and significant features of rural development in family beef cattle breeders’ communities in the municipalities of São Jerônimo, Butiá and surroundings, Central South region of RS. In this thesis, the dynamics of rural development in the family livestock are understood as transitional or counter-current movements to the consolidation and deepening of conventional agriculture seated on parameters of the modern technical-scientific paradigm. In the studied reality, family beef cattle breeders were elevated from a marginalized and peripheral position to a central segment condition in the rural development web, reassessed for their social, environmental and economic importance in the relationship they establish with the local and regional society and native grassland ecosystems of the Rio Grande do Sul State, currently heavily impacted by degradation processes. Understanding RD as a transitional or counter-current movement this thesis uses analytical and methodological components provided by Multilevel Perspective, particularly the Strategic Management Niche, and the elements to think contemporary rural development, such as its multilevel character, the notion of multidimensional rural web, multifunctional agriculture and role of peasant farmers. Methodological procedures are performed through literature review, secondary data collection, semi-structured interviews to key informants and participant observation of countrysides, farms, and practices and trajectories. The theoretical framework utilized provides contributions to treat local experience in a dynamic perspective of RD occurring at the micro level, methodologically defined as a development niche of family farming, positioned under broader and more influential structural constraints, such as prevalent socio-technical regimes and socio-technical landscape. Despite the consolidation and greater structuring of the higher levels, there is interdependence and mutual interaction between what happens at micro and macro levels. Related to management there are three major alignments in the rural web: infrastructure and quality of life; genetic improvement of livestock and of natural grassland and domestic flocks management; the adding value and governability of markets. It’s considered that even though the notable alignments there are disagreements and inconsistencies as well. Even in the alignments most vigorous strategies and expectations, such as genetic improvement of sheep and cattle; creation of new markets, and in perception of natural pasture as valuable, productive and cheap resource, there are important inconsistencies. The most striking changes of RD are identified as: novelties; governability of markets; aspects referent to sustainability and endogeneity; and issues relating to social dimension of rural web. In this thesis, family farmers dedicated to livestock are assessed as able to reconcile profitably conservation and sustainable use of natural forage resource, emphasizing the multifunctionality of their farming styles based primarily on natural resources, on co-production and co-evolution. Despite this remarkable positive feature, deficiencies in training, management practices, and increased use of some modern industrial exogenous inputs prevent these positive impacts to be stronger on the environment and society. In the end, considerations are made about possible strategies and public policies for the improvement of local experience, which are expected to be also used in other cases and situations.

Esta tese objetiva investigar a gestão local e as características significativas do desenvolvimento rural em comunidades de pecuaristas familiares nos municípios de São Jerônimo, Butiá e arredores, região Centro Sul do RS. Nesta tese, as dinâmicas do desenvolvimento rural na pecuária familiar são compreendidas como movimentos de transição ou contracorrente à marcha de consolidação e aprofundamento da agricultura convencional assentada em parâmetros do paradigma técnico-científico moderno. Na realidade estudada os pecuaristas familiares foram elevados da posição de marginalizados e periféricos à condição de segmento central na rede rural de desenvolvimento, reavaliados pela sua importância social, ambiental e econômica na relação que estabelecem com a sociedade local e regional, e com os ecossistemas campestres riograndenses, atualmente fortemente impactados por processos de degradação. Entendendo o DR como um movimento transicional e contracorrente esta tese utiliza componentes analítico-metodológicos fornecidos pela Perspectiva Multinível-PMN, em especial a ferramenta Gestão Estratégica de Nicho-GEN, e os elementos para pensar o desenvolvimento rural contemporâneo, tais como o seu caráter multinível, a noção de rede rural multidimensional, a multifuncionalidade da agricultura e o papel dos agricultores camponeses. Os procedimentos metodológicos são realizados através de revisão bibliográfica, coleta de dados secundários, entrevistas semi-estruturadas com informantes-chave e observação participante da paisagem rural, unidades produtivas, e das práticas e trajetórias, incluindo registro fotográfico. O referencial teórico utilizado fornece aportes para tratar a experiência local na perspectiva de uma dinâmica de DR que ocorre no nível micro, metodologicamente definida como um espaço protegido de desenvolvimento da pecuária familiar, posicionada sob condicionantes estruturais mais amplos e influentes compostos pelos regimes sociotécnicos prevalentes e paisagens sociotécnicas. Apesar da consolidação e maior estruturação dos níveis elevados, existe interdependência e mutua interação entre o que acontece nos níveis micro e macro. Quanto à gestão identificam-se três alinhamentos principais na rede rural: infraestrutura e qualidade de vida; melhoria genética dos animais e do manejo do campo e dos rebanhos; e agregação de valor e governabilidade dos mercados. Avalia-se que apesar dos alinhamentos notáveis existem dissensos e incongruências. Mesmo nos alinhamentos de estratégias e expectativas mais vigorosos que ocorrem em melhoramento genéticos dos ovinos e bovinos; criação de novos mercados; e na percepção do campo nativo como um recurso valioso, produtivo e barato, acontecem incongruências importantes. As transformações mais marcantes do DR são identificadas como: novidades; práticas e trajetórias em governabilidade dos mercados; aspectos atinentes à sustentabilidade e endogeneidade; e questões relativas à dimensão social da rede rural. Nesta tese, os agricultores familiares que se dedicam à pecuária são avaliados como capazes de conciliar de maneira proveitosa a conservação e o uso sustentável dos recursos forrageiros nativos, enfatizando o caráter multifuncional dos seus estilos de agricultura baseados, primordialmente, em recursos da natureza, em co-produção e co-evolução. Apesar desta destacada característica positiva, deficiências em capacitação, práticas de manejo e intensificação no emprego de alguns insumos exógenos industriais modernos impedem que estes impactos positivos sejam mais fortes sobre o ambiente e sociedade. No final, são tecidas considerações sobre possíveis estratégias e políticas públicas para o aprimoramento da experiência local, as quais se esperam possam servir também em outros casos e situações. / This thesis aims to investigate local management and significant features of rural development in family beef cattle breeders’ communities in the municipalities of São Jerônimo, Butiá and surroundings, Central South region of RS. In this thesis, the dynamics of rural development in the family livestock are understood as transitional or counter-current movements to the consolidation and deepening of conventional agriculture seated on parameters of the modern technical-scientific paradigm. In the studied reality, family beef cattle breeders were elevated from a marginalized and peripheral position to a central segment condition in the rural development web, reassessed for their social, environmental and economic importance in the relationship they establish with the local and regional society and native grassland ecosystems of the Rio Grande do Sul State, currently heavily impacted by degradation processes. Understanding RD as a transitional or counter-current movement this thesis uses analytical and methodological components provided by Multilevel Perspective, particularly the Strategic Management Niche, and the elements to think contemporary rural development, such as its multilevel character, the notion of multidimensional rural web, multifunctional agriculture and role of peasant farmers. Methodological procedures are performed through literature review, secondary data collection, semi-structured interviews to key informants and participant observation of countrysides, farms, and practices and trajectories. The theoretical framework utilized provides contributions to treat local experience in a dynamic perspective of RD occurring at the micro level, methodologically defined as a development niche of family farming, positioned under broader and more influential structural constraints, such as prevalent socio-technical regimes and socio-technical landscape. Despite the consolidation and greater structuring of the higher levels, there is interdependence and mutual interaction between what happens at micro and macro levels. Related to management there are three major alignments in the rural web: infrastructure and quality of life; genetic improvement of livestock and of natural grassland and domestic flocks management; the adding value and governability of markets. It’s considered that even though the notable alignments there are disagreements and inconsistencies as well. Even in the alignments most vigorous strategies and expectations, such as genetic improvement of sheep and cattle; creation of new markets, and in perception of natural pasture as valuable, productive and cheap resource, there are important inconsistencies. The most striking changes of RD are identified as: novelties; governability of markets; aspects referent to sustainability and endogeneity; and issues relating to social dimension of rural web. In this thesis, family farmers dedicated to livestock are assessed as able to reconcile profitably conservation and sustainable use of natural forage resource, emphasizing the multifunctionality of their farming styles based primarily on natural resources, on co-production and co-evolution. Despite this remarkable positive feature, deficiencies in training, management practices, and increased use of some modern industrial exogenous inputs prevent these positive impacts to be stronger on the environment and society. In the end, considerations are made about possible strategies and public policies for the improvement of local experience, which are expected to be also used in other cases and situations.

Esta tese objetiva investigar a gestão local e as características significativas do desenvolvimento rural em comunidades de pecuaristas familiares nos municípios de São Jerônimo, Butiá e arredores, região Centro Sul do RS. Nesta tese, as dinâmicas do desenvolvimento rural na pecuária familiar são compreendidas como movimentos de transição ou contracorrente à marcha de consolidação e aprofundamento da agricultura convencional assentada em parâmetros do paradigma técnico-científico moderno. Na realidade estudada os pecuaristas familiares foram elevados da posição de marginalizados e periféricos à condição de segmento central na rede rural de desenvolvimento, reavaliados pela sua importância social, ambiental e econômica na relação que estabelecem com a sociedade local e regional, e com os ecossistemas campestres riograndenses, atualmente fortemente impactados por processos de degradação. Entendendo o DR como um movimento transicional e contracorrente esta tese utiliza componentes analítico-metodológicos fornecidos pela Perspectiva Multinível-PMN, em especial a ferramenta Gestão Estratégica de Nicho-GEN, e os elementos para pensar o desenvolvimento rural contemporâneo, tais como o seu caráter multinível, a noção de rede rural multidimensional, a multifuncionalidade da agricultura e o papel dos agricultores camponeses. Os procedimentos metodológicos são realizados através de revisão bibliográfica, coleta de dados secundários, entrevistas semi-estruturadas com informantes-chave e observação participante da paisagem rural, unidades produtivas, e das práticas e trajetórias, incluindo registro fotográfico. O referencial teórico utilizado fornece aportes para tratar a experiência local na perspectiva de uma dinâmica de DR que ocorre no nível micro, metodologicamente definida como um espaço protegido de desenvolvimento da pecuária familiar, posicionada sob condicionantes estruturais mais amplos e influentes compostos pelos regimes sociotécnicos prevalentes e paisagens sociotécnicas. Apesar da consolidação e maior estruturação dos níveis elevados, existe interdependência e mutua interação entre o que acontece nos níveis micro e macro. Quanto à gestão identificam-se três alinhamentos principais na rede rural: infraestrutura e qualidade de vida; melhoria genética dos animais e do manejo do campo e dos rebanhos; e agregação de valor e governabilidade dos mercados. Avalia-se que apesar dos alinhamentos notáveis existem dissensos e incongruências. Mesmo nos alinhamentos de estratégias e expectativas mais vigorosos que ocorrem em melhoramento genéticos dos ovinos e bovinos; criação de novos mercados; e na percepção do campo nativo como um recurso valioso, produtivo e barato, acontecem incongruências importantes. As transformações mais marcantes do DR são identificadas como: novidades; práticas e trajetórias em governabilidade dos mercados; aspectos atinentes à sustentabilidade e endogeneidade; e questões relativas à dimensão social da rede rural. Nesta tese, os agricultores familiares que se dedicam à pecuária são avaliados como capazes de conciliar de maneira proveitosa a conservação e o uso sustentável dos recursos forrageiros nativos, enfatizando o caráter multifuncional dos seus estilos de agricultura baseados, primordialmente, em recursos da natureza, em co-produção e co-evolução. Apesar desta destacada característica positiva, deficiências em capacitação, práticas de manejo e intensificação no emprego de alguns insumos exógenos industriais modernos impedem que estes impactos positivos sejam mais fortes sobre o ambiente e sociedade. No final, são tecidas considerações sobre possíveis estratégias e políticas públicas para o aprimoramento da experiência local, as quais se esperam possam servir também em outros casos e situações. / This thesis aims to investigate local management and significant features of rural development in family beef cattle breeders’ communities in the municipalities of São Jerônimo, Butiá and surroundings, Central South region of RS. In this thesis, the dynamics of rural development in the family livestock are understood as transitional or counter-current movements to the consolidation and deepening of conventional agriculture seated on parameters of the modern technical-scientific paradigm. In the studied reality, family beef cattle breeders were elevated from a marginalized and peripheral position to a central segment condition in the rural development web, reassessed for their social, environmental and economic importance in the relationship they establish with the local and regional society and native grassland ecosystems of the Rio Grande do Sul State, currently heavily impacted by degradation processes. Understanding RD as a transitional or counter-current movement this thesis uses analytical and methodological components provided by Multilevel Perspective, particularly the Strategic Management Niche, and the elements to think contemporary rural development, such as its multilevel character, the notion of multidimensional rural web, multifunctional agriculture and role of peasant farmers. Methodological procedures are performed through literature review, secondary data collection, semi-structured interviews to key informants and participant observation of countrysides, farms, and practices and trajectories. The theoretical framework utilized provides contributions to treat local experience in a dynamic perspective of RD occurring at the micro level, methodologically defined as a development niche of family farming, positioned under broader and more influential structural constraints, such as prevalent socio-technical regimes and socio-technical landscape. Despite the consolidation and greater structuring of the higher levels, there is interdependence and mutual interaction between what happens at micro and macro levels. Related to management there are three major alignments in the rural web: infrastructure and quality of life; genetic improvement of livestock and of natural grassland and domestic flocks management; the adding value and governability of markets. It’s considered that even though the notable alignments there are disagreements and inconsistencies as well. Even in the alignments most vigorous strategies and expectations, such as genetic improvement of sheep and cattle; creation of new markets, and in perception of natural pasture as valuable, productive and cheap resource, there are important inconsistencies. The most striking changes of RD are identified as: novelties; governability of markets; aspects referent to sustainability and endogeneity; and issues relating to social dimension of rural web. In this thesis, family farmers dedicated to livestock are assessed as able to reconcile profitably conservation and sustainable use of natural forage resource, emphasizing the multifunctionality of their farming styles based primarily on natural resources, on co-production and co-evolution. Despite this remarkable positive feature, deficiencies in training, management practices, and increased use of some modern industrial exogenous inputs prevent these positive impacts to be stronger on the environment and society. In the end, considerations are made about possible strategies and public policies for the improvement of local experience, which are expected to be also used in other cases and situations.

Esta Tese tem como tema os agricultores familiares diferenciados que vem sendo denominados de pecuaristas familiares. Estes agricultores têm como atividade principal a bovinocultura de corte explorada em pequenas áreas. O objetivo deste trabalho é investigar a existência, as lógicas e as estratégias dos pecuaristas familiares da região da Campanha do Rio Grande do Sul. As hipóteses que norteiam este trabalho são a de que os pecuaristas familiares são realmente um tipo diferenciado dentro da agricultura familiar, que são frutos de diferentes formações oriundas da ocupação da terra, que têm contribuições importantes em relação à questão ambiental e ao processo de desenvolvimento. Através de 60 entrevistas realizadas com pecuaristas familiares em três municípios da região da Campanha (Bagé, Dom Pedrito e Quaraí) foi possível compreender melhor as suas origens e as suas estratégias. Além disso, foram realizadas quatro entrevistas com assentados da reforma agrária, estabelecidos em dois municípios da região (Hulha Negra e Candiota), que acabaram optando pela bovinocultura de corte repetindo as formas estabelecidas historicamente. O trabalho utiliza o modo de vida e os estilos de agricultura como a explicação teórica mais consistente para a realidade encontrada. Os dados obtidos demonstram que os pecuaristas familiares são sim um tipo de agricultor familiar que norteiam as suas atividades e as suas estratégias a partir do modo de vida que definem para si e suas famílias. As principais características do modo de vida dos pecuaristas familiares são cinco. A primeira é a bovinocultura de corte como a principal atividade agrícola, praticada sobre pastagens naturais e com baixo uso de insumos externos sendo os bovinos considerados como mercadoria de reserva. Isto acarreta estratégias como as altas lotações de animais por hectare, a diversificação "por dentro" da atividade (cria e recria) e vendas de animais apenas quando há necessidades financeiras. A segunda é a autonomia em relação ao mercado estabelecendo estratégias de comercialização a partir das necessidades da família e não na busca de melhores preços, além de distância dos endividamentos. terceira é o uso principal da mão-de-obra da família associada com uma troca de serviços com os vizinhos em uma relação de reciprocidade que permite enfrentar os momentos de maior demanda por mão-de-obra. A quarta é a grande quantidade e a grande importância que tem a aposentadoria rural para os pecuaristas familiares. A quinta é a presença do autoconsumo de maneira significativa representada não pelo consumo de vegetais, mas pelo consumo de carne bovina e, principalmente ovina. Apesar de ser um grupo de famílias que tem pouca renda pode-se constatar que se trata de um modo de vida que contribui econômica, social e ambientalmente com os processos de desenvolvimento rural compreendido de maneira mais ampla do que apenas o crescimento da economia. / The subject of the herein enclosed thesis is that particular variety of family farmers that is currently being referred to as "family cattle breeders". These farmers' main activity is the raising of beef cattle bred within small, restricted areas. The aim targeted by the present work was that of probing the existence, economical logic, and strategies employed by family cattle breeders in the Campanha (Southernmost Plains) area of Brazilian state, Rio Grande do Sul. The hypotheses presented as guidelines to this work are (a) that family cattle breeders are an actual variety within the family agricultural work universe; (b) that they result from different mindsets achieved during the several waves of land occupation; and (c), that they indeed bring important contributions into the environment and the developmental process. Sixty interviews were conduced with family farm owners in three different Campanha area counties (Bagé, Dom Pedrito, and Quaraí) which led to a better understanding of their origins and the strategies adopted by them. To these were added four interviews achieved with recipiendaries of land grants afforded them by the Agrarian Reformation processes and who had been settled in two other Campanha area counties (Hulha Negra and Candiota) all of whom opted out for beef cattle breeding, repeating therefore the historically stablished ways of cattle-raising in said area. This paper takes their chosen ways of life and their adopted agricultural styles as the most consistent theoretical explanation for the reality that was found. Data gleaned shows that family cattle breeders are indeed a particular kind of family farmers and that they orient their activities and strategies from the way of life they defined for themselves and their families. The main characteristics which were pinpointed among the family cattle breeding farmers are five, as described below. The first is that beef cattle raising is their main farming activity and that it is performed on natural grasslands and with low usage of external inputs, as their beef cattle is considered to be prime goods. This prods them into the adoption of some necessary strategies, like high percentiles of animals per hectare, the "inside" diversification of the activity (breeding and re-breeding), as well as the selling of animals only when in need of hard cash. The second is their being autonomous in relation to the market prices, setting up marketing strategies according to the family needs and not in search for the best pricing, as well as keeping away from borrowing and getting into debts. The third characteristic is employing mainly the family's own work in association with labor trading with their neighbors, a technique that allows them to face the moments when the demand for labor is strongest. The fourth is the great importance and the numbers of rural retirement benefits for family beef cattle breeders. The fifth is the presence of a high degree of self-consume, which is not significatively represented by vegetal produce, but by beef cattle meat and, all the oftener, by mutton. Even though this group of families reaches only into the lowest income brackets, the analysis of data gathered allowed for the conclusion that their way of life contributes economically, socially, and environmentally toward the processes of rural development when this is understood in a broader sense than the simple economical growth.

Esta Tese tem como tema os agricultores familiares diferenciados que vem sendo denominados de pecuaristas familiares. Estes agricultores têm como atividade principal a bovinocultura de corte explorada em pequenas áreas. O objetivo deste trabalho é investigar a existência, as lógicas e as estratégias dos pecuaristas familiares da região da Campanha do Rio Grande do Sul. As hipóteses que norteiam este trabalho são a de que os pecuaristas familiares são realmente um tipo diferenciado dentro da agricultura familiar, que são frutos de diferentes formações oriundas da ocupação da terra, que têm contribuições importantes em relação à questão ambiental e ao processo de desenvolvimento. Através de 60 entrevistas realizadas com pecuaristas familiares em três municípios da região da Campanha (Bagé, Dom Pedrito e Quaraí) foi possível compreender melhor as suas origens e as suas estratégias. Além disso, foram realizadas quatro entrevistas com assentados da reforma agrária, estabelecidos em dois municípios da região (Hulha Negra e Candiota), que acabaram optando pela bovinocultura de corte repetindo as formas estabelecidas historicamente. O trabalho utiliza o modo de vida e os estilos de agricultura como a explicação teórica mais consistente para a realidade encontrada. Os dados obtidos demonstram que os pecuaristas familiares são sim um tipo de agricultor familiar que norteiam as suas atividades e as suas estratégias a partir do modo de vida que definem para si e suas famílias. As principais características do modo de vida dos pecuaristas familiares são cinco. A primeira é a bovinocultura de corte como a principal atividade agrícola, praticada sobre pastagens naturais e com baixo uso de insumos externos sendo os bovinos considerados como mercadoria de reserva. Isto acarreta estratégias como as altas lotações de animais por hectare, a diversificação "por dentro" da atividade (cria e recria) e vendas de animais apenas quando há necessidades financeiras. A segunda é a autonomia em relação ao mercado estabelecendo estratégias de comercialização a partir das necessidades da família e não na busca de melhores preços, além de distância dos endividamentos. terceira é o uso principal da mão-de-obra da família associada com uma troca de serviços com os vizinhos em uma relação de reciprocidade que permite enfrentar os momentos de maior demanda por mão-de-obra. A quarta é a grande quantidade e a grande importância que tem a aposentadoria rural para os pecuaristas familiares. A quinta é a presença do autoconsumo de maneira significativa representada não pelo consumo de vegetais, mas pelo consumo de carne bovina e, principalmente ovina. Apesar de ser um grupo de famílias que tem pouca renda pode-se constatar que se trata de um modo de vida que contribui econômica, social e ambientalmente com os processos de desenvolvimento rural compreendido de maneira mais ampla do que apenas o crescimento da economia. / The subject of the herein enclosed thesis is that particular variety of family farmers that is currently being referred to as "family cattle breeders". These farmers' main activity is the raising of beef cattle bred within small, restricted areas. The aim targeted by the present work was that of probing the existence, economical logic, and strategies employed by family cattle breeders in the Campanha (Southernmost Plains) area of Brazilian state, Rio Grande do Sul. The hypotheses presented as guidelines to this work are (a) that family cattle breeders are an actual variety within the family agricultural work universe; (b) that they result from different mindsets achieved during the several waves of land occupation; and (c), that they indeed bring important contributions into the environment and the developmental process. Sixty interviews were conduced with family farm owners in three different Campanha area counties (Bagé, Dom Pedrito, and Quaraí) which led to a better understanding of their origins and the strategies adopted by them. To these were added four interviews achieved with recipiendaries of land grants afforded them by the Agrarian Reformation processes and who had been settled in two other Campanha area counties (Hulha Negra and Candiota) all of whom opted out for beef cattle breeding, repeating therefore the historically stablished ways of cattle-raising in said area. This paper takes their chosen ways of life and their adopted agricultural styles as the most consistent theoretical explanation for the reality that was found. Data gleaned shows that family cattle breeders are indeed a particular kind of family farmers and that they orient their activities and strategies from the way of life they defined for themselves and their families. The main characteristics which were pinpointed among the family cattle breeding farmers are five, as described below. The first is that beef cattle raising is their main farming activity and that it is performed on natural grasslands and with low usage of external inputs, as their beef cattle is considered to be prime goods. This prods them into the adoption of some necessary strategies, like high percentiles of animals per hectare, the "inside" diversification of the activity (breeding and re-breeding), as well as the selling of animals only when in need of hard cash. The second is their being autonomous in relation to the market prices, setting up marketing strategies according to the family needs and not in search for the best pricing, as well as keeping away from borrowing and getting into debts. The third characteristic is employing mainly the family's own work in association with labor trading with their neighbors, a technique that allows them to face the moments when the demand for labor is strongest. The fourth is the great importance and the numbers of rural retirement benefits for family beef cattle breeders. The fifth is the presence of a high degree of self-consume, which is not significatively represented by vegetal produce, but by beef cattle meat and, all the oftener, by mutton. Even though this group of families reaches only into the lowest income brackets, the analysis of data gathered allowed for the conclusion that their way of life contributes economically, socially, and environmentally toward the processes of rural development when this is understood in a broader sense than the simple economical growth.

Esta Tese tem como tema os agricultores familiares diferenciados que vem sendo denominados de pecuaristas familiares. Estes agricultores têm como atividade principal a bovinocultura de corte explorada em pequenas áreas. O objetivo deste trabalho é investigar a existência, as lógicas e as estratégias dos pecuaristas familiares da região da Campanha do Rio Grande do Sul. As hipóteses que norteiam este trabalho são a de que os pecuaristas familiares são realmente um tipo diferenciado dentro da agricultura familiar, que são frutos de diferentes formações oriundas da ocupação da terra, que têm contribuições importantes em relação à questão ambiental e ao processo de desenvolvimento. Através de 60 entrevistas realizadas com pecuaristas familiares em três municípios da região da Campanha (Bagé, Dom Pedrito e Quaraí) foi possível compreender melhor as suas origens e as suas estratégias. Além disso, foram realizadas quatro entrevistas com assentados da reforma agrária, estabelecidos em dois municípios da região (Hulha Negra e Candiota), que acabaram optando pela bovinocultura de corte repetindo as formas estabelecidas historicamente. O trabalho utiliza o modo de vida e os estilos de agricultura como a explicação teórica mais consistente para a realidade encontrada. Os dados obtidos demonstram que os pecuaristas familiares são sim um tipo de agricultor familiar que norteiam as suas atividades e as suas estratégias a partir do modo de vida que definem para si e suas famílias. As principais características do modo de vida dos pecuaristas familiares são cinco. A primeira é a bovinocultura de corte como a principal atividade agrícola, praticada sobre pastagens naturais e com baixo uso de insumos externos sendo os bovinos considerados como mercadoria de reserva. Isto acarreta estratégias como as altas lotações de animais por hectare, a diversificação "por dentro" da atividade (cria e recria) e vendas de animais apenas quando há necessidades financeiras. A segunda é a autonomia em relação ao mercado estabelecendo estratégias de comercialização a partir das necessidades da família e não na busca de melhores preços, além de distância dos endividamentos. terceira é o uso principal da mão-de-obra da família associada com uma troca de serviços com os vizinhos em uma relação de reciprocidade que permite enfrentar os momentos de maior demanda por mão-de-obra. A quarta é a grande quantidade e a grande importância que tem a aposentadoria rural para os pecuaristas familiares. A quinta é a presença do autoconsumo de maneira significativa representada não pelo consumo de vegetais, mas pelo consumo de carne bovina e, principalmente ovina. Apesar de ser um grupo de famílias que tem pouca renda pode-se constatar que se trata de um modo de vida que contribui econômica, social e ambientalmente com os processos de desenvolvimento rural compreendido de maneira mais ampla do que apenas o crescimento da economia. / The subject of the herein enclosed thesis is that particular variety of family farmers that is currently being referred to as "family cattle breeders". These farmers' main activity is the raising of beef cattle bred within small, restricted areas. The aim targeted by the present work was that of probing the existence, economical logic, and strategies employed by family cattle breeders in the Campanha (Southernmost Plains) area of Brazilian state, Rio Grande do Sul. The hypotheses presented as guidelines to this work are (a) that family cattle breeders are an actual variety within the family agricultural work universe; (b) that they result from different mindsets achieved during the several waves of land occupation; and (c), that they indeed bring important contributions into the environment and the developmental process. Sixty interviews were conduced with family farm owners in three different Campanha area counties (Bagé, Dom Pedrito, and Quaraí) which led to a better understanding of their origins and the strategies adopted by them. To these were added four interviews achieved with recipiendaries of land grants afforded them by the Agrarian Reformation processes and who had been settled in two other Campanha area counties (Hulha Negra and Candiota) all of whom opted out for beef cattle breeding, repeating therefore the historically stablished ways of cattle-raising in said area. This paper takes their chosen ways of life and their adopted agricultural styles as the most consistent theoretical explanation for the reality that was found. Data gleaned shows that family cattle breeders are indeed a particular kind of family farmers and that they orient their activities and strategies from the way of life they defined for themselves and their families. The main characteristics which were pinpointed among the family cattle breeding farmers are five, as described below. The first is that beef cattle raising is their main farming activity and that it is performed on natural grasslands and with low usage of external inputs, as their beef cattle is considered to be prime goods. This prods them into the adoption of some necessary strategies, like high percentiles of animals per hectare, the "inside" diversification of the activity (breeding and re-breeding), as well as the selling of animals only when in need of hard cash. The second is their being autonomous in relation to the market prices, setting up marketing strategies according to the family needs and not in search for the best pricing, as well as keeping away from borrowing and getting into debts. The third characteristic is employing mainly the family's own work in association with labor trading with their neighbors, a technique that allows them to face the moments when the demand for labor is strongest. The fourth is the great importance and the numbers of rural retirement benefits for family beef cattle breeders. The fifth is the presence of a high degree of self-consume, which is not significatively represented by vegetal produce, but by beef cattle meat and, all the oftener, by mutton. Even though this group of families reaches only into the lowest income brackets, the analysis of data gathered allowed for the conclusion that their way of life contributes economically, socially, and environmentally toward the processes of rural development when this is understood in a broader sense than the simple economical growth.