Abstract

CARVAJAL, Teresa; LAMELA, L  and  CUESTA, Aurora. Evaluation of the trees Sambucus nigra and Acacia decurrens as supplement for dairy cows in the Bogotá Savanna, Colombia. Pastos y Forrajes [online]. 2012, vol.35, n.4, pp.417-430. ISSN 0864-0394.

A study was conducted in the high tropic of Colombia, Bogotá savanna, in order to achieve partial substitution of the concentrate feed by tree foliage from green wattle (Acacia decurrens) and elder (Sambucus nigra), through agreement with the farmers, without affecting milk production. The evaluations allowed characterizing the nutritional composition of the species selected by the farmers. Likewise, the concentrate feed protein was partially substituted by the tree protein of these species (in percentages of 10, 20 and 40); a switch back design was used to determine milk production in the evaluated diets. The best results with A. decurrens were obtained when 10% of the crude protein of the concentrate was substituted, and with S. nigra when including 20%. With these inclusions 96 and 94% of the production potential was achieved, respectively. It is concluded that the forage from the tree species A. decurrens and S. nigra has adequate nutritional value and it can be used as partial replacement of concentrate in 10 and 20%, respectively. Also, such forage has the acceptance of dairy farmers in the Bogotá savanna; therefore, it is suggested to use the developed methodology for similar studies in other regions of Colombia.

Keywords : Acacia decurrens; Sambucus nigra; dairy cows; nutritional value.

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