Humans have traditionally sought provisioning services from rural areas, but society is becoming increasingly aware of other services that rural areas provide to human beings, agroecosystem services. At the same time, however, certain dysservices can be identified. The analysis of agroecosystem services and dysservices is a key point to consider in decision-making processes and provides a tool for acting on sustainability. Notwithstanding, few approaches to the dairy sector exist with this focus, and they often do not incorporate the vision of the actors from the entire value chain. The aim of the present paper is to identify agroecosystem services and dysservices deriving from the dairy farming in Galicia (Spain), as perceived by actors linked to this sector. The methodology followed a bottom-up approach (Focus Group) and identified 19 agroecosystem services (S) and 9 dysservices (D) grouped into four main categories: provisioning (6S/0D), environmental quality (5S/5D), rural vitality (6S/2D), and cultural heritage and quality of life (2S/1D). The results show strong awareness of services and dysservices, in particular as regards rural vitality (mainly related to employment and income generation) and environmental services (dyservices linked to intensive systems). We have, however, detected a significant gap in awareness of certain classical environmental services (carbon sequestration of pastures). Finally, one of the innovative findings is the identification of rural vitality services and dysservices, including the social role that farming plays in consolidating the population in rural areas, and in preserving local traditions and culture.

This study analyzes 174 tank milk samples taken from 89 commercial farms located all along the Cantabrian Coast (Green Spain). Sampling was performed in two periods: autumn 2016 and spring 2017. A survey was carried out for every day of sampling to record the average lactating dairy cow production and its diet composition. For each sample, the fatty acid (FA) profile (49 FA plus its main relationships) and nine fat-soluble antioxidant (FSA) profiles (retinol (vitamin A), α- and Υ-tocopherol (vitamin E), all-trans-β-carotene, 9-cis-β-carotene, 13-cis-β-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, and β-cryptoxanthin) were determined. The milk production varied between 7.3 and 45.9 liters per cow per day, highlighting the diversity found among production systems. The milk fat content ranged from 2.64% to 4.38% and the protein content from 2.87% to 3.56%. Regarding the fatty acids profile, the percentage of saturated fat varied between 59.95% and 75.99%. The linolenic acid content fluctuated between 0.21 and 1.31 and rumenic acid ranged from 0.20 to 2.47 (g 100 g⁻¹ total FA). The most important correlations between diet and milk FA were always related to the content of fresh grass and total forage (which is defined by both fresh and conserved forage derived from fresh grass (GCF)) in the diet. The content of vaccenic acid, linolenic acid, total omega-3, rumenic acid, and total CLA isomers showed the highest correlation with the proportion of fresh grass in the diet. The antioxidant contents were also highly variable, although correlations with dietary components were lower. The highest correlations were between total forage content (fresh grass (FG) plus GCF) and lutein, all-trans-β-carotene, and 13-cis-β-carotene. Diets without fresh grass had lower omega-3 content, CLA, vaccenic acid, lutein, all-trans-β-carotene, and 13-cis-β-carotene.

Resumo: O presente trabalho buscou analisar o nível da intensificação da pecuária nos anos de 2006 e 2017, nos quais estão disponibilizados os dados do Censo Agropecuário realizados pelo IBGE, no estado de Goiás – GO (Centro-Oeste). Utilizando técnicas de análise fatorial, aglomerados hierárquicos e não hierárquicos com base em dados do Censo Agropecuário, LAPIG/UFG e Agrodefesa – GO, foi possível gerar um índice de intensificação da pecuária para as atividades de corte e de leite. Os resultados indicam uma intensificação significativa da pecuária com aumento de 45% na taxa de lotação animal, além de aumento de 66% na suplementação animal e 49% de produtividade de leite por vaca. A pecuária é uma atividade setorizada, que se desenvolve de maneira mais intensa em zonas específicas. Além disso, a atividade leiteira possui um nível de intensificação superior à atividade de corte. Em 2006 foram classificados com alta intensificação 47 municípios para pecuária de corte e 104 municípios para pecuária leiteira. Já em 2017, o número de municípios com alta intensificação foram de 49 e 111, respectivamente.

Understanding the composition of a cow’s diet through the analysis of its milk is very useful in the linking of the product consumed with the systems involved in its production. The aim of this study is to show the diet–milk composition relationship using correspondence analysis and multiple linear regression analysis. This study analyzed 174 tank milk samples taken from 89 commercial farms located in “Green Spain”. Sampling was performed in two different periods: autumn 2016 and spring 2017. The correspondence analysis allowed for study into the general relationships between diet components and their relationship with the composition of milk (chemical composition, fatty acid profile (FA), and fat-soluble antioxidants (FSA)). The model used to estimate the percentage of fresh grass (FG) in the diet had a high predictive power (R_aj² > 0.7), and the explanatory variables included in the model were linolenic acid (C18:3-n3), vaccenic acid (trans11-C18:1), and cis12-C18:1. The regression equation was applied to the 174 tank milk samples individually. To evaluate the equation’s predictive capacity, different thresholds for the dry matter percentage of fresh grass in the ration were marked (15%, 20%, 25%, and 30%), above which milk could be considered “grass-fed milk”, and below which, “not grass-fed milk”. The equation is considered valid when it correctly classifies the sample. The highest percentage of success (89.7%) was obtained by marking a threshold of 25% FG. When analyzing the misclassified milk samples, that is, where the equation did not classify the milk sample well according to its fresh grass composition, it was observed that the majority of cases corresponded to milk samples that came from herds fed with fresh grass above the marked threshold (>25%) but with a high content of concentrate in the ration. The conclusion is that the percentage of concentrate in the diet has a very important influence on the fatty acid profile of milk, particularly with respect to fresh grass. This is in such a way that anywhere above a concentrate content of >30%, the equation’s capacity to estimate the percentage of fresh grass decreases.

A atividade leiteira tem uma relevância socioeconômica mundial uma vez que gera emprego e renda para milhões de famílias e contribui para a segurança alimentar, muito embora gere impactos ambientais significativos. Neste contexto, a produção do leite orgânico é apresentada como uma alternativa para um desenvolvimento mais sustentável. Este trabalho tem como objetivo apresentar um dos elos da cadeia produtiva de leite orgânico na Galícia - Espanha, a produção in natura, e analisar sua viabilidade enquanto alternativa para o desenvolvimento sustentável. Metodologicamente, trata-se de um estudo exploratório realizado através de pesquisa de campo junto às propriedades na província de Lugo, Galícia/Espanha entre abril e maio/2022. Os resultados permitem inferir que a produção de leite orgânico se constitui numa alternativa para o desenvolvimento sustentável, pois os produtores entendem que a atividade é rentável economicamente e permite manter um estilo de vida em que as preocupações sociais e ambientais estejam presentes.