Factors Limiting the Weaning Rate in Beef Production Systems in the Breeding Region of La Pampa Province, Argentina

The cattle breeding area of the province of La Pampa, Argentina is characterized by a 60 % average weaning rate. The degree of relationship between environmental and management factors and the weaning rates obtained in the region was analysed. A total of 180 farms (15% of total) were randomly selected in the area, characterized by an arid-semiarid climate, and their climatic and productive information was reconstructed for the period 2004-2017. The explanatory and target variables were categorized as 0 and 1, and analysed using contingency tables (2,  = 0,10). The probability of occurrence of significant associations was estimated by Odd Ratio (OR). The variables heat stress, below-average cumulative summer-autumn rainfall and negative water balance per animal had significant probabilities of 60 % of being associated with low weaning (OR = 1,5, 1,6 and 1,45, respectively). It is a priority to define policies to improve access to water and to incorporate more rustic breeds tolerant to high temperatures.