Bos indicus and bos indicus x bos taurus heifers' performance under two grazing systems in the arid chaco of Argentina

Abstract:

The objective of this study was to assess the beef cattle production potential of the Arid Chaco ecosystem through a sylvopastoral system with two different breeds Nelore (Bos Indicus) and Braford (Bos indicus x Bos taurus), and two grazing managements (rotative and alternative) on a Buffel Grass (Cenchrus ciliaris L.) var. Nueces pasture. Twenty-eight growing heifers (365-385 days of age), 14 Nelore (Bos indicus) and 14 Braford (Bos indicus x Bos taurus), were randomly assigned into two groups containing seven heifers of each breed. Stocking rates of two heifers/ha were assigned. The most significant finding in this study was the capacity of the silvopastoral system to support two growing heifers/ha, up to 270 kg live weight gain/ha/year, without any feed supplementation. The kg/ha yield in the silvopastoral system means a great improvement compared to the present yields (4 to10 kg beef/ha/year) obtained at the Arid Chaco with traditional beef cattle production systems. Results indicate the great potential of the silvopastoral system to produce beef cattle on the Arid Chaco, without performing a complete elimination of the natural tree stratus.

Año de publicación:

2010

Keywords:

• Braford
• Silvopastoral
• Buffel grass
• Nelore
• Cenchrus ciliaris l.

Fuente:

scopus