Relación de las unidades calor (Uc) acumuladas con el rendimiento y valor nutritivo del forraje

Abstract

The forage production represents a first order activity for the cattle ranch, and it is influenced by climatic, physiological and handling aspects, this dynamic activity requires of study and attention, to take a better advantage of it. For this assay four forage species, and three cutting frequencies (high, middle, and low), were evaluated during a year, and analyzed in a 4 x 3 factorial design arrangement, and it was observed that the dry matter yield depends on the accumulated Uc (heat units), being a strong relation between these variables; namely in the alfalfa and buffel species and, in a smaller degree, in the C3 grass. The digestibility, raw protein, and relative value of the feed, are positively related among them, and negatively, with the yield of dry matter and the Uc, that are positively related among them. The species in the different stations can show different fiber contents, as related to the increase of accumulated Uc, that increase the production of forage, but dimin ish its quality. The raw protein and digestibility, reached their best value from 780 - 900 Uc in alfalfa, in buffel its best is near the 1000 Uc, in festuca and orchard, the best values for these variables was obtained approximately at 900 Uc.