Edad de corte del pasto marandú sobre la producción de leche en ganado bovino mestizo.

Abstract

Dairy production has increased its importance in bovine livestock activity in the tropics, developing mainly under grazing systems, taking advantage of the potential of native and introduced grasslands. Marandú grass (Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandú) is one of the most widely used in Tropical America due to its forage quality. For this reason, the effect of the cutting age of Marandú grass on the productive behavior of crossbred cows was evaluated, specifically on the consumption of green biomass (CGB), consumption of dry biomass (CDB) and milk production (MP). The trial was established in a farm in the town of Santo Domingo de Los Colorados canton, Santo Domingo de Los Tsáchilas province, Ecuador, using bovine females in the first third of lactation. The paddocks were established with Marandú grass, in an area of 15,000 m2, divided by the cutting ages, which were: 20, 25 and 30 days, constituting the treatments, with four repetitions (cows). The research was conducted in a completely randomized design. For data analysis, an ADEVA was performed; Tukey's multiple range test was used for the variables that generated statistical differences. The data was processed with the InfoStat Software. In the results, statistical differences were presented (P<0.0001) for all the variables studied because of the treatments (cut-off age: CA). The 30-day CA was the treatment that allowed obtaining the highest values of the variables CGB, CDB and MP, with 54.04 kg· ha-, 12.78 kg· ha-1and 566.94 L· ha-1, respectively, compared to 45.27 kg·ha, 9.90 kg· ha-1and 144.53 L· ha-1, respectively, of CA of 20 days, treatment with which the lowest values were obtained. It is recommended to continue research of this nature considering the importance of these aspects for the management of bovine feeding that will result in higher production and higher profits for the livestock business.