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Feeding Systems with Legumes to Intensify Dairy Farms - cgiar

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argentea (taking in<strong>to</strong> account cutting, carrying, and chopping) and ensiled<br />

C. argentea (preparation).<br />

Table 5 shows that, although gross income was higher when the<br />

concentrate was used (US$3.13) compared <strong>with</strong> fresh or ensiled Cratylia<br />

(US$3.10 and US$3.05, respectively), costs were also higher and the net<br />

income was US$0.84. When fresh Cratylia was used in the diet, net income<br />

was US$1.26 and <strong>with</strong> ensiled Cratylia it was US$1.16.<br />

In addition <strong>to</strong> the economic benefit, the use of the legume is<br />

environmentally beneficial in terms of nutrient recycling and sustainability<br />

of the system.<br />

Table 5. Daily income and expenditures (US$/cow per day) obtained <strong>with</strong><br />

test diets (ECAG, Costa Rica).<br />

Treatment Income Expenditures Difference<br />

Concentrate 3.13 2.30 0.84<br />

Fresh Cratylia 3.10 1.83 1.26<br />

Ensiled Cratylia 3.05 1.89 1.16<br />

Conclusions<br />

The results of this study indicated the following: (1) fresh C. argentea,<br />

at 3 months regrowth, is a good alternative <strong>to</strong> feed milking cows; (2) under<br />

ECAG conditions, Cratylia should be harvested at 3 months regrowth <strong>to</strong><br />

prepare silage because the leaf:stem ratio is best then; and (3) fresh or<br />

ensiled C. argentea can replace the use of a commercial concentrate in dairy<br />

cows of intermediate milk production during the dry season.<br />

References<br />

Argel, P. J.; Lobo, M. B.; Romero, F.; González, J.; Lascano, C. L.; Kerridge,<br />

P. C.; and Holmann, F. 1999. The shrub Cratylia argentea as a dry season<br />

feeding alternative in Costa Rica. Paper presented at the workshop<br />

“Working <strong>with</strong> Farmers: the Key <strong>to</strong> Adoption of Forage Technologies”, held<br />

in Cagayan de Oro, Northern Mindanao, Philippines, 12-15 Oc<strong>to</strong>ber 1999.<br />

6 p.<br />

Lascano, C. E. 1995. Calidad nutritiva y utilización de Cratylia argentea. In:<br />

Pizarro, E. A. and Coradin, L. (eds.). Potencial del género Cratylia como<br />

leguminosa forrajera. Proceedings of the Cratylia Workshop, held 19 and<br />

20 July 1995. Brasilia, DF, Brazil. EMBRAPA, CENARGEN, CPAC, CIAT.<br />

p. 83-97.<br />

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