Objective

To evaluate the performance of productive indicators in growing male cattle in two animal husbandry farms under the management conditions of the Cesar Valley region, in Colombia.

Materials and Methods

Growing male cattle, of the commercial breed Brahman, were used. The study lasted nine months. Grazing systems of Bothriochloa pertusa (L.) A. Camus were used, in two farms, without the application of irrigation or fertilization. The forage availability, live weight, mean daily gain and bromatological composition were evaluated as indicators.

Results

In both farms, the highest dry matter yields were found in the rainy season. With the beginning of the dry season, the forage production decreased. Mean daily gain of 425 and 428 g animal-1day-1 in the rainy season, and of 112 and 167 g animal-1 day-1 for the dry season were obtained in the farms La Providencia and La Unión, respectively. The average protein values varied between 7 and 9 %. Meanwhile, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber increased in the dry season with regards to the rainy season. The feeding balances indicated metabolizable energy deficit during the dry season and, in both seasons, in the minerals Ca, P, Na, Cu and Zn.

Conclusions

The results indicate that B. pertusa is a pasture with important DM yields in the rainy season, but the utilization of other feeding strategies is necessary in the dry season to cover the requirements and prevent weight losses in the animals.

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