Abstract

ENSO (El Niño/La Niña southern oscillation phenomenon) is a meteorological process that has been influenced by the natural climatic cycle. La Niña, is characterised by rain increase over the normal average. However, as consequence of climatic change, some transformations have affected meteorological and environmental issues such as frequency and intensity of ENSO. Those changes are a threat for tropical sustainable livestock production. Different studies have contributed to identify effects in dry season for tropical livestock, milk production and fodder quality. Nevertheless, investigations for identifying effects due to rainy season are unusual; hence, this is the goal of this paper. This research, based on direct observation in 62 small towns and more than 600 villages, shows the affectation in livestock production in six Colombian regions during rainy season in 2010 and 2011. Flood has affected animals, fodder and soils by cattle overgrazing. Soil damage was the main effect in milk production at Altiplano Cundiboyacense region. North region showed affectation in fodder availability. Other regions showed strong damages in infrastructure, for instance road locks. In Western and Southern regions, the affectation was softer, because the direction of the rivers flows from south to north, where converges rainwater of almost all Colombia.