“In Brazil, approximately 90% of the area planted with cashew is located in the Northeast…”
Tânia Maria Leal is a researcher at Embrapa Meio-Norte, has a degree in veterinary medicine from the Federal University of Piauí, a M.Sc. in animal science from the Federal Rural University of Pernambuco and a Ph.D. from the State University of Ceará.
Leal works in the conservation of genetic resources, health control, reproductive and zootechnical performance, and silvopastoral systems with sheep in cashew pastures.
Tânia Leal, researcher at Embrapa Meio-Norte
AgriBrasilis – Why would one herd sheep in cashew areas?
Tânia Maria Leal – The system of sheep production in areas with cashew trees is called silvopastoral system, which consists of sheep production in pasture, with the presence of cashew trees. It is a practice that aims to integrate trees (cashew trees), forage (grass) and animals (sheep), in a mutually beneficial way. This system provides well-being to the animals due to the shade of the trees.
In Brazil, approximately 90% of the area planted with cashew is located in the Northeast. The States of Ceará, Piauí and Rio Grande do Norte are the largest producers.
Sheep production in areas with cashew trees is a technically viable alternative for optimizing land use, as it does not cause losses to the production of nuts or pasture, providing an increase in income for farmers.
“The shade of the cashew trees provides greater comfort to the sheep, in addition to reducing stress, improving the animals’ performance”
AgriBrasilis – What type of management is adopted in this system?
Tânia Maria Leal – This technology uses sheep after weaning in a finishing or fattening system. The animals remain in this system for approximately three months, when they are available for slaughter.
A comparative study was conducted between the conventional system, called monoculture, where there are no trees, and the silvopastoral system. One of the advantages of the silvopastoral system with cashew trees is that the former offers better environmental conditions.
The shade of the cashew trees provides greater comfort to the sheep, in addition to reducing stress, improving the animals’ performance. In this system, the sheep eat the cashews that fall from the trees, leaving the nut intact.
The cashew peduncle is rich in tannin, a substance that acts against worms in goats and sheep. Chemical control of worm infestation in small ruminants is not as effective as expected, since the nematodes are resistant to the products used.
Source: Embrapa Meio-Norte
AgriBrasilis – What other projects are developed with sheep and goats by Embrapa?
Tânia Maria Leal – Embrapa Meio-Norte develops several research actions in the area of goats and sheep, among them: conservation of genetic resources; sanitary control of the main diseases; phenotyping and genotyping of sheep; alternatives for reducing heat stress in sheep; among others.
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