Supplementation with Norgold Concentrate + Molasses-Urea at 3% to Grazing Zebu Bovines During the Growing or Fattening Stages in the Dry Season

To determine the production potential of grazing Zebu bovines, using Norgold concentrate + molassesurea at 3% during the growing and fattening stages, 60 young bulls with similar weights and breed characteristics were used. Four experimental groups were made, which grazed for 9h daily, on marvel grass (Dichantium annulatum) + bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum) average quality, 3kg of Pennisetum Cuba CT - 115; 1.0; 1.5; and 2.0 kg of Norgold concentrate for groups I, II, III, and IV, respectively, along with mineral salt and water ad libitum. Initial and final live weight, absolute weight, mean daily gain, and consumption were determined. Cost/benefit was also estimated. The animals in treatment 4 reached 401 kg of live weight (47.43% of their weight in comparison to initial live weight at 180 days); the average daily gain and conversion were 716.66 g and 10.37 kg of feed/kg of live weight, respectively. It was concluded that the treatment including 12.0 and 1.5 kg of Norgold concentrate, respectively, had mean daily gains and feed conversion (P < 0,05) higher than the traditional systems based on molassesurea, and other byproducts. The meat production achieved showed a positive cost/benefit ratio, which means that the system is feasible, productive and cost-effective

Effects of Supplementation with Microminerals on Production Indicators and Blood, Feces, and Urine Traces of Grazing Alpaca (Lama lama)

To analyze the effect of additional microminerals in the diet supplement on weight and diameter of alpaca fiber, the application of three doses of selenium and zinc (0.0; 1.0; and 1.5 cc) on the diet, on CRD factorial arrangement (3 x 2) + (3 x 2), was assessed. The results showed statistically significant differencences for treatments: selenium doses, ages, zinc doses, and for zinc interaction by ages (Se1E2 with 74.33 kg at 90 days, for height at the withers, Zn1E2, averaging 91.33 cm). Fiber length for treatments Se1E1 and Se1E2 averaged 3 cm. For fiber diameter, treatments 1 (Se0E1) and Se1E1, group 1, and treatments Zn0E2 and Zn1E1, group 2, showed the best fiber quality (P < 0.05), averaging 28 microns. Live weight and fiber quality from mature animals based on supplementation with Se and Zn had beneficial effects, which improved phenotypical features of production, like live weight, though residues were found in 3-5 year old animals

Bio-economic Impact of Strategic Changes in Murrah River Buffalo Management

The aim of this paper was to evaluate the effects of changes in the strategy to manage the bio-economic efficiency of a Murrah Buffalo production system in the province of Camagüey, Cuba, located 21º north and 77º west, 217 meters above sea level. The climate is tropical humid (Aw) of plains. The mean annual precipitations were 1 180 mm (71% between May and October), the temperatures were between 24 and 29 °C. The soil is brown, without carbonates, and brown-red fersiallitic. The system comprises 5 100 ha and has 536 workers/year. A strategy to introduce management changes in agro-technical, food, reproductive, replacement, health, salary policy, and training was implemented as part of an innovation package with a systemic and participatory approach. The evaluation lasted eight years, and it was critical to increase dairy production in more than 200 000 kg/year in 2012, in comparison to 2004, with improvements in natality and reduction of operational expenses of the system. It was concluded that the strategy had a determining effect on the system's indicators

Algarroba Effects on Behavior and Dairy Production of Grazing Cows II. Rainy Season.

The influence of arborization with algarroba (Prosopis juliflora SW) on behavior and dairy production of grazing cows was evaluated. The trial was made in the rainy season, and six enclosures per arborization treatment were used (low arborization, with 1-7 trees/ha; mid-arborization, with 12-16 trees/ha; and high arborization, with 20-27 trees/ha). Activities were observed every ten minutes during the mornings and afternoons. The number of animals, and each animal´s activity time was recorded. The dairy production data were collected and compared through a randomized design with six repetitions (ANOVA). Significant differences were observed (P < 0.05) to more arborization in grazing (155-173 min), and the monthly values observed were similar. In fields with low arborization, the cows ate less grass, whereas fields with mid and high arborization, the cows grazed longer, and produced more milk (11.2 and 12.59 kg/c/day)

Leucaena leucocephala cv Perú in Association with Graminaceae in Dryland Conditions for Final Bovine Fattening Stage

To evaluate the factors that affect efficiency in a Leucaena leucocephala cv Perú association, with pastures for bovine fattening, 22 Zebu fattening cycles were studied on a farm of the Rectangulo Livestock Company, in Camagüey, Cuba, between 2002 and 2012. The local soil is brown without carbonates. The climate is tropical humid, and the annual precipitation average is 1 183mm. The factors evaluated were food balance, duration of the fattening cycle, and quantity of animals/cycle. The daily weight gain and expenses/income per operation were also analyzed. The pasture and Leucaena percentages were determined by plant counts. Food balances were estimated. The final value of the population of Leucaena cv Perú was 93% (P <0.05), with an increase in common Bermuda grass and other pastures. Short duration tests showed much higher gains (P <0.05), with values above 1.0 kg/animal/day. The number of animal/cycle (P <0.05) produced higher gains with fewer animals. Forest-grazing in association with Leucaena leucocephala cv Perú-graminaceae under dryland conditions produced mean daily gains above 0.800 kg/animal/day in the final stage of fattening bulls, based on food balances with adequate biological and economic results. The best behavior was observed in the shortest cycles, where the highest final weight/animal values were achieved, with fewer expenses and higher income

Effect of Algarroba on Grazing Cow Behavior and Milk Production. I. Dry Season.

The effect of algarroba (Prosopis juliflora SW) arborization on grazing cow behavior and milk production was assessed. The trial was made in the rainy season, and six enclosures were used per arborization treatment (low arborization, 1-7 trees/ha; mid arborization, 12-16 trees/ha; high arborization, 20-27 trees/ha). Rational grazing was performed. The grass rested for 21-28 days, and sprinklers were used for irrigation. The animalsʼ activity time and the number of animals were registered. Milk production values were compared using ANOVA, following a randomized design with six replicas. No significant differences were observed in the morning grazing (118-203 min), but there were significant differences (P < 0.05) in the afternoon, in favor of more arborization (103-125 min), whereas in lands with mid and high arborization, cows ruminated longer, with higher water consumption and milk production, and values between 11.85-13.76 kg/v/day

Effects of Milled Maize Stalks on the Productive Response of Grazing Dairy Cows.

The productive response of grazing dairy cows was evaluated, using milled corn stalks in the diet. The study was developed in two different settings, in Ecuador (Costa and Sierra regions). On the coast farm (29.1 ha), cows grazed on Bermuda grass (Cynodon nlemfuensis) and Guinea grass (Panicum maximum) with several types of legumes (Lysicarpus, Centrosema, Desmodium, Galactia), supplemented with corn stalks cv. INIAP 125. The animals received 0.46 kg beginning at 3 kg, and milled maize stalks in 30 and 28-day periods, respectively (M-30 and M-28), and control without stalks for 36 days (M-0). The farm in the other region (14.2 ha) had 23 cows grazing on Kikuyo grass (P. clandestinum) and ryegrass-white clover (L. perenne and whole maize stalks and T. (60-70% ripe grain), at a rate of 18 kg green/cow/day for 48 days; and balanced supplement, at a rate of 0.5 kg/ milk liter, after the fourth kilogram, along with minerals. In both cases the forage had effects (P < 0.05) on cow response. In the Sierra area, the increase was 1.68 kg/cow, and in the coast, it was 1.1 and 2.5 kg/cow). Maize stalks served as a nutritional complement for poorly consumed grass areas in both regions; milk production/animal was increased, and the costs were reduced

Fodder, Nitrogen, and Energy Balances in Grasslands with Algarroba Trees (Prosopis juliflora (S.W.) DC.) under Dairy Cow Grazing

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of algarroba (Prosopis juliflora (S.W.) DC.) on fodder, nitrogen and energy contents in Ecuadoran dairy farm grasslands. The study was made at ESPAM bovine facility, 15 meters above sea level, in Manabí, 00º49’23’’, south latitude, and 80º11’01” west longitude, with 962.4 mm of annual precipitation, between September 2011 and December 2014. The stocking rate was 1.09 LU/ha. The areas were populated with 1-4 algarroba trees/ha by 2011, and 8-35 trees/ha, in 2014. Fodder, nitrogen, and energy balances depended on the arborization degree. As a result, 52 t of DM were estimated in 2014, in comparison to the 21 t produced in 2011. Nitrogen was higher with increased arborization between 2011 (60.9 kg/ha), greater nutrient intake from external sources, and 2014 (39.3 kg/ha), with less use of supplements and mineral fertilizers, and greater N2 contribution by arborization. The energy values were higher in 2014, with an increase in algarroba population/ha. The rise in trees/ha in 2014 favored forage yields, with improved N2 and energy efficiency, which was linked to the benefits acquired by the grassland, the contribution of nitrogen to the ecosystem, and the reduction in feed and fertilizer consumption, which led to energy savings

Suplementación con Norgold + miel urea al 3 % de bovinos cebú en crecimiento-ceba en sistema de pastoreo en época de seca.

Con el objetivo de determinar el alcance productivo en bovinos cebú al utilizar como suplemento Norgold + mela-za-urea al 3 % durante la etapa de crecimiento-ceba bajo sistema de pastoreo, se emplearon 60 toretes, de iguales pesos y características raciales, conformándose cuatro grupos experimentales; sometido a 9 h diarias de pastoreo, sobre pasto pitilla (Dichantium annulatum) + tejana (Paspalum notatum) de calidad regular; 3 kg de forraje de Penisetum Cuba CT – 115; 1,0; 1,5 y 2,0 kg de Norgold para los grupos I, II, III y IV, respectivamente y sal mineral y agua adlibitum. Se determinó el peso vivo inicial y final, crecimiento absoluto, ganancia media diaria y consumo, así como se estimó el beneficio/costo. Los animales del tratamiento 4 lograron alcanzar 401 kg de peso vivo; es decir, el 47,43 % de su peso respecto al peso vivo inicial en 180 días, y como promedio para todo el período, una ganancia media diaria y conversión de 716,66 g y 10,37 kg de alimento/kg de peso vivo, respectivamente. Se concluye que los tratamientos donde se incluye 2,0 y 1,5 kg de Norgold, respectivamente, lograron ganancias medias diarias y conversión alimentaria superiores (P < 0,05) a los sistemas tradicionales con base de melaza-urea y otros subproductos, así como la producción de carne que se logra permite una relación costo/beneficio positiva, lo cual significa que el sistema es factible, productivo y económico.Norgold Supplementation + Urea Molasses (3 %) for Pasture Fattening Growing Zebu Bovines in the Dry Season. ABSTRACTWith the objective of determining the productive reach in bovine Cebú when using as supplement Norgol + molas-ses-urea to 3 % during the stage of growth-it feeds low shepherding system, 60 properly uniformed toretes was used as for weight and characteristic racial conforming to subjected four experimental groups at nine daily hours of shepherding, on grass PITILLA (Dichantium annulatum) + Tejana (Paspalum notatun) of regular quality; 3 kg of forage of Penisetum Cuba CT - 115; 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 kg of Norgold for the groups I, II, III and IV, respectively and salt mineral and it dilutes ad libitum. The weight alive initial was determined and final, absolute growth, daily half gain and I consummate as well as was considered the benefit/cost. The animals of the treatment four were able to reach 401 kg of live weight , that is to say, 47.43 % of their weight regarding the weight live initial in 180 days and like average, for the whole period, a daily half gain and conversion of 716.66 g and 10.37 food kg / kg of weight lives respectively. It concludes that the treatments where it is included 2.0 and 1.5 Norgold kg respectively they achieved earnings daily stockings and conversion alimentary superiors significantly (P ≤ 0.05) to the systems that traditionally have been orchestrated with the help of molasses-urea and the employment of other by-products, as well as the meat production that is achieved allows a relationship positive benefit / cost, that which means that the system is feasible, productive and economic