The objective of this work was to assess the effects of integrated crop-livestock systems, associated
with two tillage and two fertilization regimes, on the abundance and diversity of the soil macrofauna. Four
different management systems were studied: continuous pasture (mixed grass); continuous crop; two croplivestock
rotations (crop/pasture and pasture/crop); and native Cerrado as a control. Macrofauna was sampled
using a modified Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility method, and all individuals were counted and identified at

This chapter investigates the options for improving the performance of small ruminants interms of their contribution to household incomes. The characteristics of the existing production system are first sketched in order to identify the resource requirements and constraints of the system. Based on this imformation, a steady-state flock model is then developed and used to assess the impact of variation in growth, reproduction and mortality rates production.