ABSTRACT
In Mexico, the cattle industry is related to employment and economic growth, and provides food security for people living in poverty; nonetheless, livestock production is also related to the decrease of biodiversity and environmental services. A feasible option to maintain food security while utilizing natural resources in a sustainable manner is the conversion to silvopastoral systems (SPS; associations of grasslands with trees and shrubs). Mexico has the potential to successfully convert livestock systems in the tropics to SPS, as they occur unintendedly in the Mexican Tropics. Recently, Mexican researchers have focused on exploring the variables involving the implementation of SPS, including animal welfare indicators. Recent findings have shown positive results in body condition, flight distance (a measure of fear to humans), foraging time in relation to temperature and affiliative interactions. Such benefits are also related to humane livestock practices, which contemplate ethical livestock production in environmentally friendly systems, especially when this activity has the potential to improve food security in an overpopulated world.
