Economic damage caused by spittlebugs (Homoptera: Cercopidae) in Colombia: A first approximation of impact on animal production in Brachiaria decumbens pastures

Using a simulation model as an analysis tool, the economic impact of spittlebugs in pastures of Colombia was quantified in terms of animal production. Three levels of abundance (10, 25, 50 adults/m2 ) and farm area affected (25, 50, 100%) were evaluated using data obtained in Brazil for Notozulia entreriana (Berg) on Brachiaria decumbens Stapf. The model considered dual-purpose production systems in two contrasting ecosystems: (1) the dry tropics, characterized by a well defined, 6-month rainy season and (2) the humid tropics, characterized by uniform rainfall distribution throughout the year. Compared to healthy pastures, stocking rate, milk and meat productivity decreased 1-8, 8-34 and 38-54%, respectively, at low, intermediate and high abundance levels, depending on farm area infested. The cost of producing milk and meat increased 0-4, 3-16 and 18-30% at the same infestation levels, causing net income to decrease 3-16, 17-69 and 67-100%. At the regional level, economic damage in the 1,140,000 ha sown to grasses susceptible to spittlebugs in the humid tropics of Colombia ranged from US$7-25, 28-36 and 39-47 million/yr. In the 4,720,000 ha of susceptible grasses in the dry tropics, economic damage was US$33-118, 132-175 and 228-273 million/yr. The investment required to develop grass varieties resistant to spittlebugs and adapted to soils with low to intermediate fertility (US$6 million over 12 yr) is low compared with the economic damage caused by spittlebugs in Colombia, and therefore presents a major economic incentive for support of research on varietal improvement and spittlebug management.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Holmann, Federico J., Peck, DC
Format:	Journal Article biblioteca
Language:	English
Published:	2002
Subjects:	feed crops, brachiaria decumbens, feed grasses, cercopidae, damage, economic analysis, simulation models, animal production, stocking density, meat production, milk production, production costs, income, gramíneas forrajeras, daños, análisis económico, modelos de simulación, producción animal, carga ganadera, producción de carne, producción lechera, costos de producción, renta,
Online Access:	https://hdl.handle.net/10568/43366 http://ciat-library.ciat.cgiar.org/Articulos_ciat/119-2001peck.pdf
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