Abstract

LOPEZ, 1O.; LAMELA, L.; MONTEJO, I. L  and  SANCHEZ, Tania. Influence of the supplementation with concentrate feed on the milk production of Holstein x Zebu cows under silvopastoral conditions. Pastos y Forrajes [online]. 2015, vol.38, n.1. ISSN 0864-0394.

The study was conducted in order to evaluate the effect of the supplementation with concentrate feed on the milk production and quality of crossbred Holstein x Zebu cows under silvopastoral system conditions. Eight animals that grazed in an association of Guinea grass (Panicum maximum) and leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala) were used, in a Switch Back design, with two treatments: SS (without supplementation) and CS (0,5 kg of concentrate feed per kilogram of milk produced from the eighth kilogram). The pasture and leucaena availability was measured and the chemical composition of the feedstuffs was estimated. In the animals, the body condition (BC) was monitored, the milk production was measured and the concentrations of fat, protein, lactose, total solids (TS) and non fatty solids (NFS) were determined. The pasture availability was 6,4 t DM/ha/rotation, which, together with the browsing of leucaena, allowed offers higher than 100 kg DM/animal/day. The CP of the Guinea grass was 11,4 % and in the case of leucaena, 25,2 %. The milk production of treatment CS was similar to that of the control (9,7 and 9,8 kg/animal/day, respectively), just like the milk composition (fat, protein, lactose, TS and NFS) and the BC of the cows (2,70 for both treatments). The data suggest that the supplementation with concentrate feed in Holstein x Zebu dairy cows, managed in an association of Guinea grass and leucaena with high forage offer, does not increase the milk production or improve its nutritional quality.

Keywords : body condition; Leucaena leucocephala; Panicum maximum.

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