Incremento de peso en terneros al destete alimentados con gramínea de corte y Tithonia diversifolia.

Abstract

This thesis evaluated the effect of different dehydration levels of Cuba 22 grass (Pennisetum sp) with the inclusion of Mexican sunflower (Tithonia diversifolia) on weight gain in weaned calves. Three castrated crossbred cattle of homogeneous weight were used, fed with three treatments: fresh grass, 24-hour dehydrated grass, and 48-hour dehydrated grass, all including 500 grams of Mexican sunflower. The experiment was conducted in three 10-day phases in El Carmen canton, Manabí province, Ecuador. Daily, periodic, and total weight gain were measured, as well as feed conversion. The results showed a significant influence of forage dehydration level on weight gain. Fresh grass produced the highest increase (0.57 kg/day), followed by 24-hour dehydrated grass (0.50 kg/day), and finally 48-hour dehydrated grass (0.43 kg/day). A progressive decrease in weight gain was observed throughout the periods. Dry matter intake also decreased with forage dehydration. It was concluded that fresh grass is the best option to promote greater weight gain in calves, while dehydration has a negative effect, possibly due to lower palatability and digestibility of dehydrated forage.