Evaluation of social, economic and productive sustainability of two agroecosystems of small-scale milk production at the Amecameca Municipality, Mexico

The aim of this research was to design and evaluate sustainability indicators in small-scale milk production agroecosystems in two different zones: the municipality of Amecameca and San Francisco Zentlalpan, delegation of Amecameca, both places are situated at the eastern region of Mexico State. This research was developed in a period of time form May in 2009 to April in 2010. The methodology used to design sustainability indicators was based on the MESMIS frame on sustainability. The sample consisted on 12 production units with 154 cows producing, which represent 10.6% of the total population of cows in productive age in the whole municipality. The obtained indicators were: A) Herd's health: 8.4% of mastitis from affected quarters and 79.5% from hygiene practices; 49.5% of herd's handling; and animal welfare: 19.75 m2 per animal in each barn. B) Quality of raw milk: it is observed that milk produced in this two regions can be classified as Class A (for fat, density and lactose), Class C (for protein) due to disparities in milk's protein quantities. All this classifications are considered according to the Mexican standard NMX-F-700-COFOCALEC-2004. Also it is classified in Class 4 in BAM and for BC it exceeds what is established in the Mexican standards. C) Reproductive management: 142.5 open days were registered, 2.1 mounting services per conception, 365 days of lactation and 13.8 months of interval between calvings. D) Production organization: 83% of the population of producers evaluated in the research's development is part of certain associations or technical assistance programs as well. e) Governmental support: 100% of the producers have received some kind of benefit from diverse institutional programs. E) Economical analysis: it is observed that the annual investment for milk production consisted on $21,299.96 M.N. with an economic utility of 53%. The cost of milk production per liter was $3.33 M.N., the sale price ascended to $4.75, with an economic utility of $1.41 M.N. per liter. F) The quality of living: it is considered as high. G) Water rights fee: it was registered that 91.5% of the production units have paid annually to have access to the communitarian water supply system. In conclusion, the agroecosystem is sustainable in an economic and social way when indicators like production organization, governmental support and economic analysis are related, as a consequence, quality of living indicator shows positive results. The evaluation of sustain