Abstract

SANCHEZ, Tania; LAMELA, L; LOPEZ, O  and  BENITEZ, M. Productive performance of Cuban Mambí dairy cows in an association of grasses and Leucaena leucocephala cv. Cunningham. Pastos y Forrajes [online]. 2008, vol.31, n.4, pp.1-1. ISSN 0864-0394.

The performance of the productive indicators of Mambí cows (3/4 Holstein x ¼ Zebu) from Cuba was evaluated in an association of improved grasses and Leucaena leucocephala cv. Cunningham, at a dairy unit of the Genetic Livestock Production Enterprise of Matanzas. The milk weighing was performed for two years in 100% of the milking animals, with a monthly frequency. Milk production per milking cow and total production per cow were determined, as well as the influence of production two-month period, season, lactation number and year on productive performance. Coincidence was obtained between the real and potential milk production curve, with efficiency higher than 85%; the highest values were obtained in the rainy season. When analyzing milk production per two-month period, the best results were obtained in July-August. Besides, production values per lactation of 2 030-2 159 kg and per hectare of 2 744-3 025 kg were achieved. In turn, when analyzing the effect of season on weight of calves at birth no significant differences were found; the values were higher than 37,5 kg for both seasons. It is concluded that with the association of improved grasses and leucaena acceptable total productions, production per lactation and per hectare were obtained, which led to an adequate cost-effectiveness level in the dairy unit, with gains higher than 1 000 pesos per hectare.

Keywords : Milk production; silvopastoral systems; lactation; leucaena.