Agroecological aptitude and dairy farming intensification in a family farm in Tocantins, Brazil

This study aimed to develop a diagnosis of land use suitability, growth prospects and milk production intensification in a family farm located in Conceição do Tocantins, Tocantins, Brazil. Data were obtained through interviews with employees and residents, cooperative members, analysis of productive activities and sources of income. To understand the milk production intensification, an experiment was carried out with the division of an area of 1 ha into 3 paddocks and pasture management. For soil aptitude characterization, vector data provided by Seplan were used. The division of the area into paddocks and pasture management allowed an increase in the animal load of 3 AUhayear and 48% in the daily milk production in the winter and 32% in the summer. In view of the results, it could be concluded that well-formed areas, rest and occupation period with grass reached animal load of 10 AUhayear. Thus, the possibilities of agroecological intensification of pastures were promising and productive; however, investments were high. For professionals interested in these changes, it is necessary to invest in quality paddocks and cattle, in addition to professional training.


Introduction
The state of Tocantins has 139 municipalities with population of 1,383,445, with 78.81% of the population, which corresponds to 1,090,241 people, living in urban areas and 21.19%, representing 293,212 people, living in rural areas (IBGE, 2019). Pereira and Nascimento (2014) reported that the entire agricultural and livestock sector plays a relevant role in the sustainability of the state economy, because while the gross value added of agriculture has a share of 5.6% in the total gross value added of the Brazilian economy, in Tocantins, this share reaches 20.6%. According to IBGE (2019), 7.5 million hectares are occupied by livestock and 700 thousand hectares are occupied by agriculture, leaving, therefore, 5.7 million hectares for future expansion of the agricultural frontier of Tocantins.
These animal production systems are related to production capacity, management, social benefits and even the survival of families (Guerra et al, 2015) in situations such as the periodic droughts that affect southeastern Tocantins. Thus, production diversification is generally related to financial conditions, producer's personal characteristics and factors such as periods of water scarcity, soil aridity, distance from large input supply centers, among others (Silva et al., 2018). Ferreira et al. (2020) points out that in the case of dairy farming, most production models are based on high consumption of external inputs related to food and medicines, mainly for better adaptation to the tropical climate of animals originally from temperate climates. Talking about agroecological systems leads to a reflection on the reduction of inputs used and on the complexity of the different systems currently in practice (Valenzuela, 2016;Nogueira, 2010).
Thus, as in other developing regions, animal production stands out for its importance for food security, job and income generation (IBGE, 2019). This situation is worrying, since extensive cattle farming demands large areas, which are not available to most producers in the region due to the economic, technical, social and environmental unfeasibility of the activity, especially in small areas located on agricultural frontiers (Souza & Matos, 2019).
This study aimed to develop a diagnosis of land use aptitude, growth prospects and milk production intensification in a family farm located in the municipality of Conceição do Tocantins, Tocantins, Brazil.

Methodology
The research was carried out at Chuva de Manga Farm, rural area of Conceição do Tocantins, Tocantins, Brazil. The property is located in the Cana Brava community, with 5 ha, located in the southeastern region of the state at altitude of 325 m a.s.l., with geographic coordinates 12° 25' 28.22'' S and 47° 13' 29.675'' W ( Figure 1). The climate of the region is humid and sub-humid with moderate water deficit -C2wA'a', precipitation of 1300 mm, temperature of 27 °C and average annual potential evapotranspiration of 1,500 mm (Seplan, 2019).
To meet the food demand of the 12 residents and 2 employees, the property develops some agroecological activities.
Its particularity and main demand is milk production, and the property has 6 female cattle, and other activities developed are: swine farming, focused on crossbreeding and laying poultry, in addition to a well-established agroforestry system. The characterization data of production systems were obtained through fieldwork from January to December 2020. Data were collected as follows: interview with employees and residents, cooperative members, analysis of productive activities and sources of income.

Milk Production Intensification And Forage Production
This case study was carried out, dividing the area into 3 paddocks and pasture management, respecting an occupation and rest period of 21 days for brachiaria (brizantha Hochst Stapf), massai (Panicum maximum) and mombaça (Megathyrsus maximus) forages (Figure 2), thus being able to verify if the low production was due to lack of management and if there is possibility of milk production intensification.
Research carried out by Maneschy et (2005) in Pará verified that pastures formed with Brachiaria, brizantha cv Marandu did not meet the requirements of P, Na and Cu for beef cattle in the lactation phase. In addition, as recommended by Embrapa (2012), approximately 62.5 liters of water per day were provided to lactating cows.

Agroecological Aptitudes
Spatial analyses were performed in a geographic information system, using Arcgis 10.5 software to compile and cross reference spatial information in shape format. Pedological data, land use and cover and priority areas were analyzed. Based on results generated by the crossings between files, simple descriptive statistics regarding the extension of areas in each property were managed, and vector data used were from the Seplan database (2019).

Results and Discussion
The community in the region develops different productive activities linked to own consumption, and also for marketing and exchanges, characterizing well the family farming profile. Research, Society and Development, v. 11, n. 4, e12111427236, 2022 (CC BY 4.0) | ISSN 2525-3409 | DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v11i4.27236  Size of the animal raised in the system adopted by the community, Figure 4. Currently, milk is the main source of income in the farm, where 50 liters of milk are produced per day by 6 animals, 3 of which are mixed breed (SRD) and 3 Nellore, which is not enough to meet the daily demand for consumption and marketing.
The milk produced is destined for the AP-Leite association, founded in 2015 with 25 members. Souza (2019) states that extremely extensive practices reach productions above 10 l milk/cow/day. This milk is sold for R$ 1,40 a liter. According to IBGE (2019), the national average price of a liter of milk is R$ 2,0344. The low added value to the milk produced is due to the fact that the milk is not processed, only refrigerated. Since the school and the association have no structure for milk pasteurization, the milk is sold outside the community for a much lower price compared to the market. The daily production capacity to meet this demand is 200 liters of milk per day, because in addition to consuming milk, cakes, breads and other products are made to feed the students. In addition to milk production, the school could invest in dairy products such as milk cream and artisanal cheese.
Another difficulty identified was the genetic quality of animals, which in addition to not having a defined breed, are old, having 6, 7 and 13 years. According to Embrapa (2021), the ideal period of lactation is from 10 months among the most productive milk breeds: Holstein, Jersey, Pardo Suiço, Girolando and Gir. It would be advisable to replace these for Jersey animals, used mainly as dairy cattle, given the quality of their milk in terms of fat and non-greasy solids, in addition to lower food consumption due to their small size and easier adaptation than Holsteins, which are more demanding in terms of climate, comfort and handling. According to Embrapa (2012), under ideal conditions, the Jersey cow produces approximately 25 liters of milk per day.
In addition, it is important to train farmers and employees on how to produce milk in an adequate and organized way, adding value to production.
Milk production drastically reduces in the driest period. In general, productivities obtained are low, even if in some herds there are animals with good performance, lactations range from 5000 to 6830 liters/cow/year. Animals are raised solely on pasture, without supplementary food, only mineral salt, in different compositions, supplied irregularly. The fenced area where animals graze has 1.4 ha, with no division of paddocks, with animal load around 2.15 AU/ha/year. The occupation and rest periods of pasture plots are not respected in the management, which leads animals to feed sometimes on very fibrous material, when the grass grew too much, sometimes on too rich material, when the grass just sprouted.
This way of managing leads to forage wear and the dominance of the area with adventitious plants, affecting production as a whole, triggering a process of forage degradation, damaging the original soil characteristics.

Milk Production Intensification And Forage Production
In a field experiment, dividing the area of 1 ha into 3 paddocks and pasture management, respecting the rest period for Brachiaria, Massai and Mombasa grass, present for 21 days, allowed an increase in animal load of 6 AU/ha/year and a 300% increase in the daily milk production in the period of winter and 220% in the dry/summer period, obtained by 6 lactating cows.
According to Embrapa (2021), these increments are the result of green and well-managed pasture, represented by the following variables: leaf life span, leaf appearance rate and leaf extension rate. The recommended entry height for grazing is based on the point where the plant has the highest presence of leaves, few stalks and little dead material, since nutrition is the determining factor to maximize the genetic potential of the herd (Michel, 2019). Darnet et al (2021), in an experiment carried out in settlements in the Brazilian Amazon, obtained increase in animal load of 4 AU/ha/year and increase of 57% in daily milk production in the winter period and of 36% in the dry/summer period, obtained by nine lactating cows.
This experience allows us concluding that it is possible to carry out an agroecological milk production intensification only with the division of pasture areas and management of their use in a rotated way. With well-formed areas, that is, homogeneous forage cover and rest and occupation period respected for the grass used, in addition to supplementation, with proper fertilization, it is possible to reach animal load of 10 AU/ha/year, ideally with 22 paddocks, each paddock measuring 45.5 m². This means tripling the current animal load. Bastos et al (2018) states that in terms of feeding and pasture management, there is an emphasis on the works that point out the Voisin Rational Shepherding (PRV) as the best alternative.

Other Agroecological Productions
In addition to milk production aimed at own consumption and marketing, there are also small poultry, swine, fish and sheep activities.
In perennial and annual crops, there is production of pineapple, corn, eucalyptus, scarlet eggplant, okra, tomato, cassava, banana, sweet potato, gherkin, in addition to spices and some medicinal herbs, all aimed at own consumption. Less frequent, but also present, there is tilapia fish farming, with low production, also aimed at consumption. The area of the property in general is considered small for the reality of the region, since the tax module of the municipality is 320 ha. In terms of land use, in 2015, out of a total of 5 ha, 100% were still forested areas. Currently, 80% of the farm is consolidated and productive.

Agroecological Aptitude
The study area has aptitude for intensive livestock and planted pasture, slightly undulating relief and is not susceptible to erosion due to the absence of eutrophic soils and is easily mechanized, (Figure 6). Research, Society andDevelopment, v. 11, n. 4, e12111427236, 2022 (CC BY 4.0) | ISSN 2525-3409 | DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v11i4.27236 8 According to Figure 6, Livestock has influenced life in the southeastern regions of the state since its colonization, animal production systems, in general, are based on conventional methods that include burning, deforestation and overgrazing.
Thus, it is necessary to redefine the activity, and these changes influence work relationships, social reproduction strategies of groups of family farmers, land occupation and use of natural resources (Nunes, 2013).
The predominant soil in the study area is plintosols, Figure 7, soils composed of mineral material, with plinthic, lithoplanthic or concretionary horizons, all from the localized iron segregation, which acts as a cementing agent (Embrapa, 2021). They are strongly acidic, and may present low (dystrophic) or high (eutrophic) base saturation, with predominance of low saturation. There are also soils with solodic and sodic properties, (Figure 7). According to Seplan (2019), the region is suitable for intensive livestock and short-and long-cycle crops. The area is located in flat to gently undulating relief, with slope of 0-10%, which facilitates mechanization. They are deep, porous, well drained, well permeable even when very clayey, friable and easy to prepare. Despite the high potential for agriculture, part of its area must be kept as a reserve for the protection of the biodiversity of these environments. Fidalski (2015) corroborates that this soil does not have porosity limitations for soybean and forage cultivation. França et al (2019) reinforces that the indication of use is dependent on the level of management, and the more technified the production, the greater the alternatives for using the area, also taking into account the type of soil. These two parameters are closely related to indicate the soil aptitude.
In a study carried out by Balem and Machado (2019), farmers observed the difference between extensive management and Rational Shepherding Voisin, in relation to tick infestation. The understanding of the system is evident and the farmers realize the advances that the Rational Shepherding Voisin provides. In all properties it was reported that mastitis and the incidence of ticks decreased with the agroecological transition process.

Conclusion
The study area has aptitude for livestock activity, the main activity carried out by the community. The possibilities with the agroecological intensification of pastures are promising and much more productive than the current situation; however, investments are also high. For professionals interested in these changes, it is necessary to invest in quality paddocks and cattle, allied to professional training and qualification.
The land use limitations must be known and respected so that the soil is used in a more sustainable way, especially in small properties, all the soil resource must be preserved to maintain maximum productive capacity, maximizing the economic return for producers, who depend on it for their survival.
For future work, it is suggested to verify the increase in milk productivity in a Crop-Livestock-Forest integration system.