Ciclo de las plantas forrajeras: Dinámicas y prácticas de una comunidad ganadera del Chaco Seco, Argentina

Abstract

En las comunidades campesinas y sociedades pastoriles, la ganadería, así como sus practicas y sus dinámicas exceden las actividades meramente productivas o económicas, donde los distintos vínculos relacionados con el cuidado y el mantenimiento de los animales atraviesan la cotidianeidad del día a día, ocupando lugares de privilegio en distintos niveles sociales y culturales. En estas estrechas relaciones se establece un conjunto de saberes asociados a las plantas, donde usos, conocimientos, saberes, prácticas y dinámicas se vinculan directamente con la alimentación animal. Métodos: Para la Sierra de Ancasti en la provincia de Catamarca, se indagaron aspectos relevantes del conocimiento local asociado a las plantas forrajeras, las formas de manejo y de adquisición de las plantas vinculadas a la alimentación animal. En total 20 unidades domésticas -pequeños productores ganaderos- participaron de entrevistas abiertas y semiestructuradas. Junto a pastores de rebaños, se realizaron caminatas guiadas, recorridas al campo y recolección de ejemplares vegetales. Resultados: Los pobladores señalaron 61 tipos de forrajes, correspondientes a 88 especies, en 25 familias y 62 géneros. La familia con mayor riqueza de especies fue Poaceae (28), seguida de Bromeliaceae (11) y Fabaceae (10). Se construyó, de forma gráfica, simplificada y descriptiva, el ciclo anual forrajero, que muestra la disponibilidad del recurso a largo del año, así como algunas de las prácticas culturales asociadas a la ganadería. A partir del concepto de forraje empleado por los pobladores -pastores- se describen prácticas y dinámicas asociadas a las plantas forrajeras nativas de la Sierra, así como de aquellos forrajes comprados y/o cultivados. Conclusiones: El ciclo construido a partir de las voces locales, pretende ser una herramienta que demuestre la importancia que tiene el manejar, el conocer y el conservar la diversidad de plantas, diversidad que mantiene al ganado, que constituye parte de una dieta variada y que es solución ante la emergencia (principalmente en época de invierno).

Knowledge is the result of collective, diachronic, dynamic and holistic processes that are acquired, transmitted, forgotten or transformed from the own to generational experiences. In the rural communities and pastoral societies, the livestock practice widely exceeds the framework of productive activities, and the breeding of animals occupies a place of privilege in the rural culture. In this narrow relationship, it is established a whole of knowledge associated with plants, where uses, practices and dynamics are related to the animal alimentation. It is there where the fodder plants carry out a main role, as nourishment of domestic and breeding animals. According to Vila & Arzamendia (2016), the different degrees of availability of the resources throughout the year, in relationship with the changes of temperature among seasons determine annual cycles. For the agricultural and pastoral communities, the cyclic conception of time is renewed annually and this regulates many of the practices and traditions. In this way, the construction of cycles is often materialized in the shape of calendars- drawn, written or engraved- with annual, seasonal and daily periodicities that show the material conception of time in some cultures, it is part of dominant metaphors. In this context, the inquiries are directly related to the bonds that small and medium livestock producers with the plants establish. The following questioning were the ones which guided the research: Which are the local fodder plants? Are the principal fodder species used in the different seasons of the year? Methods: Sierra de Ancasti is a town located in the Ancasti District, Catamarca Province, Argentina. Its urban center lies between 28o23´29.3´´ S, and 65o 20´65.40´´ W (Figure 1). This mountain range, which is part of the Chaco phytogeographic region (Dry Chaco), is a system of Pampean Sierras (Pampean mountains) measuring over 1,200 m in altitude. The rural inhabitants of the region define themselves as criollos­serranos (Mountain locals) and lead a peasant lifestyle. Their subsistence economy is mainly associated with traditional systems, the open field system, of livestock production (bovine, goat and sheep). Family farming is oriented towards self­sufficiency, generally including small farms, where maize (Zea mays L.) and squash (Cucurbita maxima Duch) are the main crops. Together with shepherds of flocks of sheep and goats, guided walks, journeys to the field and gathering of vegetation specimen were conducted. From the qualitative data, speech analysis, participant observation technique and the confrontation of the information, the annual cycle of fodder plants was formed, with CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2017 program. Results and discussion: This study revealed that 61 types of plants, belonging to 88 species, 44 genera, and 23 botanical families are used as forrages (Table 1). The Poaceae family had the highest number of species (28), followed by Bromeliaceae (11) and Fabaceae s.l. (10). The annual cycle of the fodder plants was constructed in a graphic, simplified and descriptive manner, which displays the availability of the resource throughout the year, as some of the cultural practices of livestock (Figure 2). The annual cycle should be read as a dynamic representation, whose dates or established times are not definite, considering they can vary in time and they depend on a countless number of environmental, climatic, ecological, social, cultural variables, among others. This graphic and descriptive manner lets observe not only the diversity (in terms of species richness) of fodder plants in the region, but also how they change throughout the year. From the concept of fodder used by the inhabitants, practices and dynamics are described associated with the native fodder plants of the Sierra, as those purchased and/or cultivated fodders. Fodder plants of the Sierra: It is exalted the importance and the role that the species of Bromeliaceae, Cactaceae and Loranthaceae families perform, highly appreciated among the inhabitants for being considered emergency fodders. These plants are sought, collected and transported in winter to feed the breeding animals. On the other hand, it is emphasized the importance of the species of Fabaceae, for being the nourishment of all kinds of livestock, whose leaves and especially their fruits are avidly consumed by the animals. The fruits of the legumes, together with those of other species (Condalia spp., Geoffroea decorticans and Sarcomphalus mistol) are distinguished as the best fodders of summer, for their capacity to make the livestock gain weight. Another of the most important fodders for the inhabitants in summer is the pasture (Poaceae). Purchased and/or Cultivated Fodder: The ?alfalfa? (Medicago sativa) is one of the most noted, used, and in fact, one of the favorite fodders of the shepherds of Ancasti. It is considered of great fodder value in every season. This herb is not cultivated in the region; therefore, its access is only possible through purchase. Avena spp. and Hordeum spp. are other species which should be purchased, mainly in winter time or times of scarce resources. It is emphasized the importance of the "maize" (Zea mays), considered the most valued fodder among the inhabitants of the Sierra de Ancasti. This species, purchased and cultivated is related all throughout the year with the nourishment of the livestock. Additionally, the practices and management that present other fodder species associated with the crop of maize (Amaranthus spp., Canna indica, Cucurbita maxima, Ipomoea spp. y Sorghum spp.) are described.Conclusion: With a whole of 88 species defined locally as fodders (of 154 species consumed by the livestock), the nourishment of the breeding animals in Ancasti, constitutes a relevant issue, present and dynamic, where the practices as well as the management, the disuse of native and exotic plants are in constant transformation. It is emphasized the high richness of species, considering that this wide diversity contributes to the maintenance of the livestock, allowing the inhabitants to offer a varied diet to their animals, even in the seasons of scarce resources (vegetables and economic). It is emphasized the importance of obtained information through this annual cycle, which prioritizes a biological and social approach to the matter of fodder. In biological terms, it is established which are the main species consumed by the livestock, which are the fodder fruits, which are the emergency species in winter and in which seasons there is more or less availability of vegetable resources. In cultural terms, it is described the main productive activities of subsistence in the family units associated with livestock areas documenting different forms, practices and dynamics in relationship with the species that nourish the livestock. It is reiterated the necessity to document the local appropriation, management and knowledge associated to the natural resources, where it is connected the rural inhabitant, their landscapes, their fields, plants and animals. This information, of ethnobiological value, is a step to the understanding of pastoral systems in a region whose subsistence scope and local lifestyles are constantly permeated by the close bond with the livestock. The cycle, constructed from local voices, expects to be a tool that shows the importance of using, knowing, keeping the diversity of plants, diversity that nourish the livestock, constitutes part of a varied diet and it is solution in the face of emergency (mainly in winter). To know the strategies, uses, and current management of the inhabitants can allow the approach of fodder thematic emphasizing the value of native species that grow in the Sierra, the importance of keeping the natural pastures, the need of taking care of the Dry Chaco forest.