The tree as an ally of the livestock farmer: microclimates, animal welfare, and biodiversity in silvopastoral systems

Abstract

In the tropical regions of Mexico, cattle face heat stress conditions for much of the year, reducing productivity, altering natural behavior, and compromising animal welfare. Silvopastoral systems (SPS) represent a comprehensive strategy to mitigate these effects by integrating scattered trees into pastures, generating local microclimates that reduce ambient temperature by 2 to 10 °C compared to open areas. The purpose of this article is to disseminate the microclimatic, productive, and ecological benefits of silvopastoral systems in tropical livestock farming, with particular emphasis on the Yucatan Peninsula and southeastern Mexico. The presence of trees in pastures allows livestock to remain within their thermoneutral zone (5–25 °C), resulting in documented improvements in milk production (up to 36.72% in intensive systems), weight gain, and reproductive efficiency. Beyond productivity, SPS function as biodiversity refugia for birds, bats, and soil fauna, strengthening ecological connectivity across the livestock landscape. However, their adoption faces technical, socioeconomic, and knowledge-transfer barriers that limit their expansion in Mexico. It is concluded that SPS represent a viable, sustainable, and profitable alternative for transforming traditional livestock farming into an environmentally responsible model, provided that adequate technical support, financing, and public policies are in place.