EVALUATION OF THE PRODUCTIVE RESPONSE OF GRAZING COWS WITH TWO VARIETIES OF SORGHUM SILAGE SUPPLEMENTED DURING THE DRY SEASON IN THE SOUTHWEST OF THE STATE OF MEXICO

Azael Brito-Navarro, Anastacio García-Martínez, Carlos Manuel Arriaga-Jordán, Felipe López-González, Sherezada Esparza-Jiménez, Benito Albarran Portillo

Abstract


Background. The southwestern region of the state of Mexico is an area with a livestock vocation. Cattle graze grasslands dominated by African Star (EA) grass (Cynodon plectostachyus) with scattered trees. In the dry season and due to the lack of forage of adequate quality and quantity, farmers use grain-based supplements. Forage conservation practices are little practiced. Objective. To evaluate two varieties of sorghum silage in the productive response of dual-purpose cows in the dry season. Methodology. 12 multiparous cows of different racial composition (GR) were used Holstein (H), Brown Swiss (PS), Girolando (GI), Beefmaster (BM) and Brahman x PS (BPS), at different stages of lactation (early, medium and late), divided into two groups with the same number of cows, randomly assigning sorghum silages of the Top Green (TG) or Sweet Cane (CD) variety (treatment (TX)), 1.7 and 1.8 kg of matter dry (DM) cow/day, respectively. In addition, the cows received 5 kg DM cow/day of a balanced concentrate of 18% crude protein (CP). The cows grazed during the day in pastures dominated by EA grass with scattered trees. The experiment lasted 8 weeks, two weeks of habituation period and six weeks (experimental periods (EP)) for sampling and recording of productive variables. Results. There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in the productive response due to the variety of sorghum silage, racial group, or lactation stage. Significant differences were detected in dry matter intake (kg/cow/day), milk yield (kg/cow/day), weight and weight change (kg), due to PE. The lactation stage had no significant effect on the response variables (P > 0.05), except on DM intake. The TX*PE interaction had no effect on the productive response variables, while the GR*PE interaction had significant effects on CMS, weight and weight change. Implications. Knowledge of other forage species conserved as silages, alternatives to corn in the supplementation of dairy cattle, contributes to the development of supplementation strategies less susceptible to current climatic variations. Conclusion. The silage of two varieties of sorghum, Top Green or Caña Dulce, did not have significant differences in the productive response of lactating cows in the dry season. The Top Green variety produced 22% more dry matter than the Caña Dulce variety, so under the conditions in which the experiment was carried out it would be the most recommended variety to grow as a forage supplement.

Keywords


Feeding strategy; dual purpose cows; non-conventional forage; dry season.

Full Text:

PDF

References


Albarrán-Portillo, B., García-Martínez, A., Ortiz-Rodea, A., Rojo-Rubio, R., Vázquez-Armijo, J.F. and Arriaga-Jordán, C.M., 2019. Socioeconomic and productive characteristics of dual purpose farms based on agrosilvopastoral systems in subtropical highlands of central Mexico. Agroforestry Systems, 93(5), pp.1939–1947. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-018-0299-2

Albarrán-Portillo, B., Rebollar-Rebollar, S., García-Martínez, A., Rojo-Rubio, R., Avilés-Nova, F. and Arriaga-Jordán, C.M., 2015. Socioeconomic and productive characterization of dual-purpose farms oriented to milk production in a subtropical region of Mexico. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 47(3), pp.519–523. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-014-0753-8

Albarrán-Portillo, B., Salas-Reyes, I.., Arriaga-Jordán, C.. and García-Martínez, A., 2024. Productive response of lactating dual-purpose cows grazing in an agrosilvopastoral system during the dry season supplemented with low levels of crude protein. Tropical and Subtropical Agroecosystems, 27, pp. 002. http://dx.doi.org/10.56369/tsaes.4588

Alix, H., Tremblay, G.F., Chantigny, M.H., Bélanger, G., Seguin, P., Fuller, K.D., Bittman, S., Hunt, D., Larney, F.J., Acharya, S.N. and Vanasse, A., 2019. Forage yield, nutritive value, and ensilability of sweet pearl millet and sweet sorghum in five Canadian ecozones. Canadian Journal of Plant Science, 99(5), pp.701–714. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjps-2019-0031

Álvarez-Sánchez, A., García-Martínez, A. and Albarrán-Portillo, B., 2023. Productive and economic performance of Brown Swiss cows at different stages of lactation fed two crude protein levels. Tropical and Subtropical Agroecosystems, 26(3), p. 070. http://dx.doi.org/10.56369/tsaes.4721

ANKOM, n.d. Tecnology, Macedon, New York, USA. [online] Available at: https://www.ankom.com/analytical-methods-support/fiber-analyzer-delta?f%5B0%5D=field_faq_group%3A89

AOAC, 1995. Official Methods of Analysis. 15th ed., Association of Official Analytical Chemists, Arlington, VA.

Avendaño-Arrazate, C.H., Molina-Galan, J.D., Trejo-López, C., López-Castañeda, C. and Cadena-Iñiguez, J., 2008. Respuesta a Altos Niveles De Estrés Hídrico En Maíz. Agronomía Mesoamericana, [online] 19(1), pp.27–37. Available at: http://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=43711424004

Cattani, M., Guzzo, N., Mantovani, R. and Bailoni, L., 2017. Effects of total replacement of corn silage with sorghum silage on milk yield, composition, and quality. Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology, 8(1), pp.1–8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40104-017-0146-8

Chagas, J.L., Delveaux Araujo Batalha, C., de Arruda Camargo Danés, M., Maurício Santos Neto, J., Lopes Macedo, F., da Silva Marques, R. and Augusto Portela Santos, F., 2021. Protein supplementation to early lactation dairy cows grazing tropical grass: Performance and ruminal metabolism. Animal Science Journal, 92(1), pp.1–9. https://doi.org/10.1111/asj.13564

Chiambiro, G., Madzimure, J. and Mpofu, I.D.T., 2022. Constraints and opportunities of sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) silage production and utilisation by smallholder milk production sector in Zimbabwe. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 54(2). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-022-03084-z

Cuevas-Reyes, V., Toledano, B.I.S., Juárez, R.S., Jiménez, J.E.R., Meza, A.L. and Gallegos, T.M., 2021. Determining factors for the use of sorghum as fodder for bovines in Northwestern Mexico. Revista Mexicana De Ciencias Pecuarias, 11(4), pp.1113–1125. https://doi.org/10.22319/RMCP.V11I4.5292

Daley, V.L., Armentano, L.E. and Hanigan, M.D., 2022. Models to predict milk fat concentration and yield of lactating dairy cows: A meta-analysis. Journal of Dairy Science, [online] 105(10), pp.8016–8035. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2022-21777

DRMS, 2014. Dairy Records Management Systems. DHIA glossary. Accessed March 7th, 2018. http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.686.2482&rep=rep1&type=pdf

FAOSTAT, 2021. Organización de las Naciones Unidas Para la Alimentación y la Agricultura- Estadísticas. [online] Available at: https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#rankings/countries_by_commodity [Accessed 4 October 2023].

Flores-Cocas, J.M., Aguilar-Pérez, C.F., Ramírez-Avilés, L., Solorio-Sánchez, F.J., Ayala-Burgos, A.J. and Ku-Vera, J.C., 2021. Use of rice polishing and sugar cane molasses as supplements in dual-purpose cows fed Leucaena leucocephala and Pennisetum purpureum. Agroforestry Systems, 95(1), pp.43–53. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-019-00434-z

Gómez-Miranda, A., López-González, F., Vieyra-Alberto, R. and Arriaga-Jordán, C.M., 2022. Grazed barley for dairy cows in small-scale systems in the highlands of Mexico. Italian Journal of Animal Science, [online] 21(1), pp.178–187. https://doi.org/10.1080/1828051X.2021.2022540

Granados-Niño, J.A., Reta-Sánchez, D.G., Santana, O.I., Reyes-González, A., Ochoa-Martinez, E., Díaz, F. and Sánchez-Duarte, J.I., 2021. Effect of the cutting height of sorghum at harvest on forage yield and nutritional value of silage. Revista Mexicana De Ciencias Pecuarias, 12(3), pp.958–968. https://doi.org/10.22319/rmcp.v12i3.5724

Harper, J.K., 2013. Agricultural budgeting for decision making. [online] Penn State. U.S. Department of Agriculture-Extension Service. Available at: https://extension.psu.edu/budgeting-for-agricultural-decision-making

IDF, 2015. A Common Carbon Footprint Approach for the Dairy Sector. The International Dairy Federation Guide to Standard Life Cycle Assessment Methodology. IDF, Brussels, Belgium.

Kaps, M. and Lamberson, W., 2004. Biostatistics for Animal Science. Wallingford, Oxfordshire. UK: CABI Publishing. CAB International.

Koenig, K.M., Li, C., Hunt, D.E., Beauchemin, K.A. and Bittman, S., 2023. Effects of sustainable agronomic intensification in a forage production system of perennial grass and silage corn on nutritive value and predicted milk production of dairy cattle. Journal of Dairy Science, [online] 106(1), pp.274–293. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2022-22110

Marsalis, M.A., Angadi, S., Contreras-Govea, F.E. and Kirksey, R., 2009. Harvest timing and byproduct addition effects on corn and forage sorghum silage grown under water stress. Research Bulletin BL-799. NM Agric. Exp. St. Las Cruces, NM, (February 2014). https://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/research/agronomy/BL799.pdf

McCary, C.L., Vyas, D., Faciola, A.P. and Ferraretto, L.F., 2020. Graduate Student Literature Review: Current perspectives on whole-plant sorghum silage production and utilization by lactating dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science, [online] 103(6), pp.5783–5790. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2019-18122

Meyer, K., Hummel, J. and Clauss, M., 2010. The relationship between forage cell wall content and voluntary food intake in mammalian herbivores. Mammal Review, 40, pp.221–245. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2907.2010.00161.x

NASEM Dairy-8, 2021. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. Nutrition Requirements of Dairy Cattle. 8th rev. ed. The National Academies Press, 2021. Available at: https://www.nap.edu/catalog/25806/nutrient-requirements-of-dairy-cattle-eighth-revised-edition

Nava-Berumen, C.A., Rosales-Serna, R., Jiménez-Ocampo, R., Carrete-Carreón, F.Ó., Domínguez-Martínez, P.A. and Ortiz, M.M., 2017. Rendimiento y valor nutricional de tres variedades de sorgo dulce cultivadas en cuatro ambientes de Durango. Revista Mexicana De Ciencias Pecuarias, 8(2), pp.147–155. https://doi.org/10.22319/rmcp.v8i2.4426

Pollott, G.E., 2004. Deconstructing milk yield and composition during lactation using biologically based lactation models. Journal of Dairy Science, 87(8), pp.2375–2387. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(04)73359-7

Pupo, M.R., Wallau, M.O. and Ferraretto, L.F., 2022. Effects of season, variety type, and trait on dry matter yield, nutrient composition, and predicted intake and milk yield of whole-plant sorghum forage. Journal of Dairy Science, [online] 105(7), pp.5776–5785. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2021-21706

Rosas-Dávila, M., Morales-Almaráz, E., López-González, F. and Arriaga-Jordán, C.M., 2024. Uso del ensilado de sorgo variedad Top Green y variedad Caña Dulce para la producción de leche en sistemas de pequeña escala. Tropical and Subtropical Agroecosystems, 27, p.074. http://dx.doi.org/10.56369/tsaes.4917

Ruz-Reyes, R., A, E.-P. and Romero-Arias, A., 2018. Evaluación de tres cultivares de sorgo [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] para la alimentación animal. Pastos y Forrajes, 41(2), p.9396

Salas-Reyes, I.G., Arriaga-Jordán, C.M., Estrada-Flores, J.G., García-Martínez, A., Rojo-Rubio, R., Armijo, J.F.V. and Albarrán-Portillo, B., 2019. Productive and economic response to partial replacement of cracked maize ears with ground maize or molasses in supplements for dual-purpose cows. Revista Mexicana De Ciencias Pecuarias, 10(2), pp.335–352. https://doi.org/10.22319/rmcp.v10i2.4569

Salvador-Loreto, I., Arriaga-Jordán, C.M., Estrada-Flores, J.G., Vicente-Mainar, F., García-Martínez, A. and Albarrán-Portillo, B., 2016. Molasses supplementation for dual-purpose cows during the dry season in subtropical Mexico. Tropical Animal Health and Production. [online] https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-016-1012-y

Sánchez-Duarte, J.I., Kalscheur, K.F., García, A.D. and Contreras-Govea, F.E., 2019. Short communication: Meta-analysis of dairy cows fed conventional sorghum or corn silages compared with brown midrib sorghum silage. Journal of Dairy Science, [online] 102(1), pp.419–425. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2018-14552

SIAP-SAGARPA, 2023. Panorama Agroalimentario 2023. [online] Available at: https://www.gob.mx/siap/acciones-y-programas/panorama-agroalimentario-258035

SMN, 2020. Servicio Meteorologico Nacional. Comisión Nacional del Agua. https://smn.conagua.gob.mx/es/.

Van Soest, P.J., 1994. Nutritional ecology of the ruminant. Ithaca: Cornell University Press.

Uddin, M.E., Santana, O.I., Weigel, K.A. and Wattiaux, M.A., 2020. Enteric methane, lactation performances, digestibility, and metabolism of nitrogen and energy of Holsteins and Jerseys fed 2 levels of forage fiber from alfalfa silage or corn silage. Journal of Dairy Science, [online] 103(7), pp.6087–6099. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2019-17599

Vargas-Rodríguez, C.F., 2005. Valor nutricional y degradabilidad ruminal de genotipos de sorgo forrajero (Sorghun sp). Agronomía Mesoamericana, 16(2), pp.215–223.

Vences-Pérez, J., Martínez-García, C.G., Morales-Almaraz, E., Albarrán-Portillo, B., Rayas-Amor, A.A., Vázquez-Armijo, J.F. and García-Martínez, A., 2021. Análisis Socioeconómico Y Tendencias De Desarrollo De La Ganadería Doble Propósito En Tropico Seco. Tropical and Subtropical Agroecosystems, 24(57), pp. 57. http://dx.doi.org/10.56369/tsaes.2785




URN: http://www.revista.ccba.uady.mx/urn:ISSN:1870-0462-tsaes.v27i3.52153

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.56369/tsaes.5215

Bookmark and Share


Copyright (c) 2024 Azael Brito-Navarro, Anastacio García-Martínez, Benito Albarran Portillo, Carlos Manuel Arriaga-Jordán, Felipe López-González, Sherezada Esparza-Jiménez

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.