Abstract 34

Marrero,-ED; Ruiz,-R; Ruiz,-TE; Macias,-R

Instituto de Ciencia Animal, Havana, Cuba.

Paturages et alimentation des ruminants en zone tropicale humide. 1989, 401-410; 17 ref., presented at 1st symposium on ruminant nutrition in tropical conditions, Pointe-a-Pitre, Guadeloupe, 2-6 June 1987. Paris, France; INRA.

Replacement heifers 4-12 months old were grazed in a randomized design experiment in 1984-86 (a) on a sward of Cynodon dactylon cv. Coastcross 1 for 16 h/day and Neonotonia wightii for 4 h/day or (b) on C. dactylon alone. Heifers grazed on pure grass were given 270 kg concentrates/head from 4 to 12 months old whereas those with access to legumes were given 150 kg concentrates/head from 4 to 8 months old. There were no differences in DM intake between treatments: (a) 4.72 and 4.49 and (b) 5.16 and 4.84 kg DM/animal day at 8 months old and (a) 6.22 and 5.34 and (b) 6.12 and 5.80 kg/animal day at 12 months old in the first and last years of the trial, resp. Grazing times were (a) 6.68 and 6.30 and (b) 5.14 and 6.03 h/animal day at 5 months old and (a) 7.75 and 8.63 and (b) 6.78 and 7.12 h/animal day at 12 months old in the 2 years these were measured. It was concluded that animal performance was similar in the 2 treatments.