Figure 11.4. Bursera simarouba trees planted
as "living fenceposts" along the road to
Monteverde. Photograph by Dan Perlman.11.1.4. Directions for Future Research
The most important research area for sustainability
is pasture management. Alternative forages, particu-
larly legumes and grass-legume mixes, could make a
significant contribution toward environmental sus-
tainability and reduce production costs. Successful
species must be hardy, low cost, low risk, and able to
survive spittlebugs.
11.2. Lowland Dual-Purpose and
Beef Production
11.2.1. History and Development
With the exception of a few degraded farms that can-
not produce milk economically, there are few special-
ized beef farms in the Monteverde upland area. Most
beef within the Monteverde milkshed is produced by
culling dairy herds or employing the lowland dual-
purpose system. Dairy breeds are crossed with beef
breeds and the farmer produces both milk and beef.
The most common beef breed is Zebu (Bos indicus),
originally from India. Dairy breeds (Bos taurus) in-
clude Holstein, Jersey, and Brown Swiss. The aver-
age dual-purpose herd in the Monteverde milkshed
is 18 cows. Typically the farmer will produce five
or six calves per year (J. J. Monge, pers. comm.). Ani-
mals reach slaughter weight or have their first calf
in four years, and typically calve in alternate years
(McDowell 1976). The animals are sold by live weight
after being trucked to public auction or slaughter-
houses for export.
Dual-purpose and beef farms in the Monteverde
milkshed occur below 900 m in premontane wet for-
est and lower montane wet forest (Pacific slope), and
lower montane rain forest and premontane rain for-
est (Atlantic slope and transitional Atlantic-Pacific).
Most are in the lowland communities of La Lindora,
La Guaria, Guacimal, Los Tornos, Cebadilla, San398 Agriculture in Monteverde: Moving Toward Sustainability