Drought Crisis: Livestock Industry in Peril

Amid severe drought conditions across the country, livestock producers face a critical challenge as diminishing forage forces ranchers to sell cattle, threatening future meat production. Calls for governmental intervention and strategic shifts in farming practices emerge amid inflationary concerns and escalating water scarcity.

Enrique López, Executive Director, Mexican Association of Meat Producers, issued a warning regarding the dwindling forage resources in the country. This scarcity is a direct consequence of the ongoing drought situation in the northern regions. As a result, many meat producers are compelled to sell their cattle to the dairy industry, leading to a reduction in the number of herds available for calf reproduction. This, in turn, will have a significant impact on meat production in the near future, López pointed out. 

During a press conference held in Guadalajara, which serves as the venue for the 2024 International Meat Congress, López elaborated on the potential consequences of herd depopulation. He emphasized that such a scenario would not only affect the availability of calves nationwide within one or two years, but also have repercussions on the overall supply and pricing of meat. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER) defines a herd as a portion of larger livestock (cows, bulls, oxen, buffaloes, or horses, among others) and the farms dedicated to the breeding of these animals.

López further disclosed that discussions have been underway with federal government agencies and Congress to secure funding for programs aimed at incentivizing livestock production. Meanwhile, states like Sonora and Nuevo Leon, have been actively implementing strategies at the state level to prevent herd depopulation.

Juan Carlos Ochoa, President, Regional Livestock Union of Sonora, highlighted the significant reduction in cattle numbers within the state, decreasing from around 1.2 million heads to 750,000 in the central region of the state. In this regard, the entrepreneur emphasized the importance of changing sector priorities and paying more attention to water care and management. "This drought affecting 87% of Sonora is telling us to change; we have to work on being kinder to our grazing lands and focus on water harvesting, which is more urgent, to achieve sustainable livestock farming," Ochoa explained. 

Within Sonora, the declaration of a water emergency by the local administration is expected to aid in addressing the crisis. This declaration entails the allocation of additional resources for well drilling and the implementation of projects aimed at improving water storage and management infrastructure.

In Nuevo Leon, where 30% of the livestock herd was lost in 2022 due to water scarcity, Enrique Canales Martínez, Representative, State Agriculture Ministry, emphasized the need for ranchers to adopt measures to improve irrigation systems, reduce water consumption, and enhance infrastructure for water and feed storage. Furthermore, he emphasized the need for transitioning toward more technologically advanced livestock farming practices to safeguard the livestock herd.

According to SADER, the livestock sector contributes 39.7% of the GDP of the primary sector in Mexico. Furthermore, 56% of the national territory, equivalent to 108.9 million ha, is dedicated to extensive livestock farming, encompassing various meat and dairy production systems.

Recent reports from the National Water Commission (CONAGUA) indicate that 72.3% of the national territory is currently experiencing some level of drought, with severe to exceptional drought affecting 41.8% of the area. This situation underscores the urgency of addressing water scarcity issues.

Joao Arenas, President, Cattle Breeders Association in Jalisco, urged the implementation of a comprehensive herd repopulation program to ensure the availability of calves and feed for meat producers, thereby mitigating the impact of drought. Strategies such as rainwater harvesting, construction of ponds and deep wells, and the use of wind extractors have been implemented in Jalisco and other states to alleviate water shortages.