Ranching in the Brazilian Amazon in a national context: Economics, policy, and practice

Abstract

The ranching sector is dynamic in the Brazilian Amazon and the approaches and environments used to raise cattle are diverse. Ranching occurs in natural grasslands at the mouth of the Amazon River, floodplains along the Amazon River, and interfluvial (nonflooded) lands where forest has been cut and replaced by pasture. We found that traditional extensive style approaches to ranching are lucrative in all three Amazonian settings. Moreover, returns on ranching investments improved when ranchers specialized in range fattening (upland areas) or calf production (natural grasslands). Returns on ranching also improved when weed‐infested upland pastures were rejuvenated through tilling, planting better adapted forages, and fertilizing. The eastern Amazon offers several advantages over the traditional ranching regions in central and south Brazil. We discuss these advantages and concrete measures aimed at encouraging the intensification of ranching in Amazonia.