Livestock fairs in the history of Guáimaro (1939-1958)

Objective: to characterize the livestock fairs of the municipality of Guáimaro as the maximum exponent of livestock culture in central Cuba in the period from 1939 to 1958.Method: using the ethnographic method, the aim is to characterize the ways of life and customs of the inhabitants of Guáimaro that emerged around the livestock fairs.Multivariate statistical analysis is used to examine the data and figures provided by official documents from the period, demonstrating that the development of the livestock culture is a result of livestock growth in the region.Results: this research demonstrates the existence of a livestock culture in the Guáimaro region, which has existed since the 19th century and became consolidated from the fourth decade of the 20th century.It also helps to close the epistemological gap surrounding livestock studies in the province of Camagüey.Conclusions: due to its physical-geographical characteristics, the municipality of Guáimaro is conducive to the development of livestock as a fundamental economic activity, a sector that was consolidated during the 20th century.Around this activity, a profound livestock culture was forged, whose main manifestation are the fairs, held starting in the year 1939.