Socio-economic and technical characteristics of backyard animal husbandry in two rural communities of Yucatan, Mexico

This research work was conducted in order to asses the socio-economic and technical aspects of backyard animal rearing in two communities of Yucatan, Mexico. One hundred and thirty nine families were interviewed in Sudzal (C-1) and 117 families in San Jose Tzal (C-2). A structured questionnaire was used to interview the families on technical and socio-economic aspects. Using this information the technical level of animal husbandry and a index of socio-economic status of the families involved in backyard animal rearing in both communities were determined. In C-1 46.8% of the interviewed families reared animals in their backyard in comparison to 70.9% in C2. Main animal species kept in the backyard were chickens (C-1 = 92.3% and C-2 = 88.0), turkeys (C-1 = 63.1% and C-2 = 55.4%) and pigs (C-1 = 38.5% and 1C(2) = 5.7% in C-1 and C-2 respectively). In C-2 100% of pigs kept in the backyard were of the commercial type. Technical level in animal production was significantly higher (P < 0.0001) in C-2 than in C-1, because utilisation of commercial diets was higher in C-2 (P < 0.001) than in C-1. The families of C-2 had a higher socio-economic level (P < 0.002) than families from C-1, because families of C-2 have houses built with lasting materials (P < 0.0001) and the occupation of the head of the family was associated with higher income (merchants or employees) (P < 0.0001). The correlation coefficients between socio-economic status and technical level in backyard animal production showed that 84% of the technical level was explained by the socio-economic status. It can be concluded that socio-economic status has a high influence on backyard animal production characteristics. The socio-economic status determine the number of animals kept and the technical level in animal rearing.