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Feeding Systems with Legumes to Intensify Dairy Farms - cgiar

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Effects of <strong>Feeding</strong> Fresh and Ensiled Cratylia argentea<br />

during the Dry Season on Milk Production and Milk<br />

Components<br />

Francisco Romero and Jesús González<br />

ECAG, Costa Rica<br />

One of the strategies of the Tropileche Consortium in Costa Rica is the<br />

search for feeding alternatives for cows during the dry season. The results of<br />

previous work carried out by the Escuela Centroamericana de Ganadería<br />

(ECAG) indicate that sugarcane is an alternative energy source for cows<br />

under grazing. Its protein content, however, is low. The study aimed <strong>to</strong><br />

evaluate the use of fresh and ensiled Cratylia argentea as a protein source.<br />

The study was based on the hypothesis that the protein quality of fresh and<br />

ensiled C. argentea was similar <strong>to</strong> that of yellow maize and soybean flour,<br />

which are sources of protein for commercial concentrates.<br />

Materials and Methods<br />

The experiment was carried out between 25 February and 20 April 1999<br />

at ECAG, located in Balsa de Atenas, Costa Rica, at 460 masl, <strong>with</strong> a mean<br />

annual temperature of 28 °C. Average precipitation was 1,500 mm/year,<br />

<strong>with</strong> two well-defined climatic seasons: a dry season from December <strong>to</strong> May<br />

and a rainy season from June <strong>to</strong> November.<br />

Forage Management<br />

Silage. The heap silage method was used. Silage was made during<br />

November 1998, using a 6-month-old Cratylia regrowth, which was cut <strong>to</strong> a<br />

height of 30 cm above the ground. Usable parts (leaves and tender stems)<br />

were separated and chopped <strong>to</strong> a size of 2.5 cm. Chopped material was then<br />

spread out in 20-cm layers and compacted. Molasses was then added at a<br />

proportion of 10:1 (10 kg C. argentea:1 kg molasses).<br />

Fresh Cratylia argentea. A 3-month-old regrowth was used. Plants<br />

were cut every day <strong>to</strong> a height of 30 cm above the ground, then chopped and<br />

offered <strong>to</strong> cows mixed <strong>with</strong> sugarcane.<br />

Sugarcane. Whole sugarcane was offered chopped (2.5-cm size) on a<br />

daily basis. Its nutritional content was 2% CP and 3.0 Mcal ME.<br />

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