Estancia System On the pampa (steppe lands) of Southern Patagonia, the individual unit of livestock production is the estancia (ranch) (this system is also used in areas where rainfall is higher). To be cost-effective, given the generally low fertility levels, each estancia covers a large area. Nowadays, three thousand hectares (about 10 square miles) barely provide subsistence for one family. Historically, company-owned estancias were organized on an industrial model and were many times larger (as much as…