Affiliation(s)
1. Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Autonomous University of the State of Morelos, Cuernavaca, Morelos 62210, Mexico
2. Bachelors Center of Agriculture Technology No. 154 Huitzilac, General Directorate of Agricultural Technology Education, Morelos 62510, Mexico
3. Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food, Postgraduate College, Montecillos 56230, Mexico
ABSTRACT
Traditionally, forage is grown in mixed
(Mi)
or monoculture
(Mo)
pastures.
However, there is currently no evaluation of the advantages of these production
systems under tropical conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate forage
production and animal behavior in Mi and Mo pastures containing white clover (Trifolium repens L.), African star (Cynodon nlemfuensis Vanderyst) and
Taiwan Napier (Pennisetum purpureum Schumach),
using a completely randomized design with two
treatments (Mo and Mi) and three repetitions during
the four
seasons of the year. For each repetition and season, three
sheep were evaluated for 8 h/d during three
consecutive days. The forage produced in Mo and Mi pastures was similar (p >
0.05)
during the four
seasons of the year. Sheep displayed higher (p <
0.01)
average daily weight gains (ADG) when grazed on Mi than Mo pastures,
particularly during summer, autumn and winter, seasons that corresponded to the
higher dry matter intake (DMI) (p <
0.05),
even though sheep spent more time (p <
0.01)
grazing on Mo pastures, when compared with spring. It was concluded that there
is no advantage in forage production when associations of white clover and two
tropical grasses are grown in Mo or Mi pastures. However, heavier sheep are
obtained from the later as a result of an increase in forage consumption.
KEYWORDS
Trifolium repens, Cynodon nlemfuensis, Pennisetum
purpureum, grazing behavior, pasture.
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