Caracterización de las explotaciones de ganado vacuno de carne en el Valle del Nansa (Cantabria)

Abstract

In order to characterize beef cattle arms of a mountain area at North of Spain (Nansa Valley - Cantabria) a survey at 42 farms was carried out. The farms are family inherited a traditional activity. With an average size of 55.0 adult cows/farm, in herds with a high diversity of genotypes, with a higher value of the crossed cows (66.2%), and in pure breeds the Tudanca (16.1% of adult cows) and Limousin (44.0% of bulls) are the most important ones. Animals use highland grazing areas during the summer (4.1 months/year) and are indoors for an average period of 5.2 months/year. Beef cattle production has a high seasonal monthly variation with a short lambing period in winter and spring, principally.