Abstract

SANCHEZ, Tania; LAMELA, L  and  LOPEZ, O. Effect of supplementation with corn distillery residues on the performance of heifers in an association of grass and leucaena. Pastos y Forrajes [online]. 2010, vol.33, n.3, pp. 0-0. ISSN 0864-0394.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of supplementation with corn distillery residues on the performance of heifers in an association of grass and leucaena. The study was conducted in an area of the Experimental Station "Indio Hatuey" , Perico municipality, Matanzas province, Cuba. The prevailing pasture species was Panicum maximum cv. Likoni and as legume, Leucaena leucocephala. Eighteen heifers, distributed in a completely randomized design in three groups of six animals, were used; the control group did not receive supplementation (A), and the other two groups were supplemented with corn distillery residues in 10% (B) and 20% (C) of the protein requirements with regards to live weight. The chemical composition, dry matter availability, live weight gain, parasite infestation and hematocrit were determined. When analyzing the daily gain per treatments, significant differences (P<0,05) were found and the highest values were obtained in treatment C (805 g/animal/day); while A and B showed 479 and 572 g/animal/day, respectively. The hematocrit values (between 28,1 and 30,5%), as well as the egg count, were maintained, without significant differences among treatments. The supplementation with distillery corn residues was concluded to influence positively the mean daily gain, and it also maintained the hematocrit values within the recommended range for cattle.

Keywords : Heifers; Heifers.

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