Abstract

GUEVARA VIERA, Raúl V et al. Leucaena leucocephala cv Perú in Association with Dryland Graminaeae for Final Bovine Fattening Stage. Rev. prod. anim. [online]. 2018, vol.30, n.3, pp. 22-28. ISSN 2224-7920.

To evaluate the factors that affect efficiency in a Leucaena leucocephala cv Perú association with pastures for bovine fattening, 22 Zebu fattening cycles were studied on a farm of the Rectángulo Livestock Company, in Camagüey, Cuba, between 2002 and 2012. The local soil is brown without carbonates. The climate is tropical humid, and annual precipitation averages 1 183 mm . The factors evaluated were, food balance, duration of the fattening cycle, and quantity of animals/cycle. The daily weight gain and expenses/income per operation were also analyzed. The pasture and Leucaena percents were determined by plant counts. Food balances were made. Leucaena cv Perú reached final values of 93 % (P < 0.05) with an increase in common Bermuda grass and others. Short duration tests showed much higher gains (P < 0.05), with values above 1.0 kg/animal/day. The number of animal/cycle (P < 0.05) produced higher gains with fewer animals. Forest grazing in association with Leucaena leucocephala cv Perú-graminaeae in drylands produced mean daily gains above 0.800 kg/animal/day in the final stage of fattening bulls, according to food balances with adequate biological and economic results, and the best behavior in the shortest cycles, where the highest final weight/animal values were achieved, with fewer expenses and higher income.

Keywords : ruminants; weight gain; grazing; cost-effectiveness; management factors.

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