Feeding Strategies for Rearing Replacement Heifers in Small-scale Dairy Production Systems in the Highlands of Central Mexico |
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Authors: | Arriaga-Jordán CM García-Martínez A Albarrán-Portillo B Espinoza-Ortega A Castelán-Ortega OA |
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Institution: | (1) Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Agropecuarias (CICA), Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Instituto Literario No. 100, Co. Centro, 50000 Toluca, México |
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Abstract: | The growth of Holstein heifers in the campesino dairy systems in the highlands of Mexico was evaluated in three feeding strategies. Thirty-three heifers from 11 farmers, grouped according to strategy, were weighed every 14 days for 28 weeks. The live weight change over each 14-day period was estimated by individually regressing live weight over period, taking the regression coefficient as an unbiased estimate of live weight change. Regression coefficients were analysed as a randomized design with feeding strategies as treatments. Strategies were as follows: S1: grazed or cut pasture all year, maize silage and maize straw in the dry season, and 1.0–1.5 kg concentrate/heifer per day. S2: maize straw in the dry season, cut pasture forage, grazing of native grass, weeds from maize fields, and 1.0–1.5 kg concentrate/heifer per day. S3: maize straw in the dry season, grazed native grasses and weeds in the rainy season. Live weight gains were: S1, 0.511 kg/heifer per day; S2, 0.271 kg/heifer per day; and S3, 0.252 kg/heifer per day. Despite the better gains in S1, they are 24% below recommendations, arriving to service at 20 months of age. Not rearing their replacements may be a better alternative for campesino farmers under current economic conditions. |
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Keywords: | cattle dairy feeding strategy growth heifer live weight nutrition smallholders |
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