Abstract

GARCIA-LOPEZ, Roberto; VINENT-SERRANO, Enrique; SARDINAS-LOPEZ, Yurangel  and  GONZALEZ-MEDINA, María Rosa. Protein foliage (kenaf and cassava) in rations of sugarcane without urea, for dairy cows. Pastos y Forrajes [online]. 2016, vol.39, n.3, pp.138-142. ISSN 0864-0394.

A study was conducted in order to evaluate the utilization of kenaf and cassava forage as alternatives of natural protein sources to substitute urea, in rations for dairy cows based on pastures and sugarcane forage, in the rainy season. For such purpose 30 dairy cows of the Siboney de Cuba breed were used, with productive potential of 12 L, live weight of 486 kg ± 12 and similar lactation times (120 days ± 25), which were randomly distributed in three treatments: A) sugarcane (15 kg/day) + 10 kg of fresh kenaf forage/day, B) sugarcane (15 kg/day) + 10 kg of fresh cassava forage/day and C) sugarcane (15 kg/day) + urea (150 g/animal/day). High values of protein were found in the forages (23,4 and 24,5 % for kenaf and cassava, respectively). The treatments with these forages produced 0,7 L of milk over the control, and little variation was observed in the health indicators. The pH in the urine and excreta of the animals was higher under the conditions of supplementation with urea, which indicates a possible alkalization. It is concluded that both forages could be a good choice to decrease imports of chemicals for cattle production and favor the higher use of natural protein sources, with a higher benefit in dairy production systems

Keywords : weight gain; forage plants; milk production.

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