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Cimarron buffelgrass as an option to increase ranch profitability on mountains of Sonora, Mexico. Moreno, Salomon*,1, Ibarra, Fernando2, Luque, Eleazar1, Martin, Martha2, Denogean, Francisco1, Gerlach, Ernesto1, Alvarez, Myriam1, 1 Universidad de Sonora-Campus Santa Ana. Av. 16 de Septiembre y Carretera Internacional., Santa Ana, Sonora., Mexico.2 Cir-Noroeste-INIFAP. Boulevar del Bosque # 7. Colonia Valle Verde., Hermosillo, Sonora.
ABSTRACT- At least one million hectares of rangelands in the mountains of Sonora, Mexico are deteriorated and show low production potential. Cimarron buffelgrass (Cenchrus multiflorus) is an unknown native perennial grass of excellent forage quality and high production potential. An economic analysis was conducted to assess profits in a ranch having deteriorated rangelands (DR) and comparing it with two options which include planting buffelgrass with and without external financing. Three ranches, 1,000 hectares each carrying out similar cattle management practices was considered, one of which operates within its current production capacity. The other two options include range improvements through seeding 200 hectares of buffelgrass annually, the first operates with its own resources (OR) and the second with external financing and government assistance (EF). A 14 years financial program projection was used. Real costs were calculated in all cases. Results show that annual mean economic profit at the ranch with DR varied from US$ 4.81 to 5.98/ha, which kept relatively stable during the 14 projected years. Revenue at OR was negative in the first five years, until the investment in grass seeding and cattle was paid, and the stabilization point was reached in the ninth year. Revenue at EF was negative in the first six years, until the investment in grass seeding and cattle was paid, and the stabilization point was reached in the tenth year. Annual mean economic profit in the rehabilitated ranches varied from US$ 27.09 to 29.05/ha at the stabilization point and was 4.8 to 6.0 times greater when compared to the deteriorated ranch without rehabilitation. We conclude that range improvements through Cimarron buffelgrass seeding constitutes a good alternative to rehabilitate degraded rangelands. Ranching in deteriorated rangelands or areas with low forage production potential is not economically profitable if we consider net annual incomes of US$ 4,806 to 5,984.
KEY WORDS: Cimarron buffelgrass, rangeland economics, rehabilitation, investment
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