Performance of replacement Cuban Charolais females in a silvopastoral system compared to a monoculture

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Ana M. Vega
Rafael S. Herrera
Verena Torres
L. Lamela
I. Montejo
A. Santana
Delia M. Cino

Abstract

The productive performance of growing females of the Cuban Charolais breed under a silvopastoral system with Leucaena leucocephala cv. Peru, in a 3 x 5 sowing frame, associated with an improved grass (Cynodon nlemfuensis) was studied compared to a monoculture. The experiment was conducted at the Empresa de Genética y Cría “Manuel Fajardo”, Granma province, Cuba. Thirty animals per cycle were used and the experiment lasted three years. Data were processed through a multivariate analysis and measurement of the impact index. The best live weights gains with 0.55 kg.animal.d-1 and age at incorporation to reproduction of the females of 19 months of age were obtained in the leucaena silvopastoral system. The best gain and the lowest cost per animals were recorded in the silvopastoral system. It is recommended using this leucaena sowing density for maintaining favorable total
pasture productions, live weight gains and adequate weight for age relationship at the incorporation in rearing systems of replacement Cuban Charolais growing females.

Key words: Charolais, age at incorporation, live weight gain, silvopastoral system, monoculture.

Article Details

How to Cite
Vega, A. M., Herrera, R. S., Torres, V., Lamela, L., Montejo, I., Santana, A., & Cino, D. M. (2016). Performance of replacement Cuban Charolais females in a silvopastoral system compared to a monoculture. Cuban Journal of Agricultural Science, 50(1). Retrieved from https://www.cjascience.com/index.php/CJAS/article/view/596
Section
Animal Science

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