Triticale (X. Triticosecale Witt.) hay as supplement for grazing cows in small-scale dairy systems in the highlands of central Mexico

Abstract

Small-scale dairy systems ameliorate poverty and contribute to rural development. The dry season generates feed scarcity, and farmers must develop strategies based on quality forage to reduce purchased inputs. The objective was to assess the performance of dairy cows grazing perennial ryegrass or tall fescue pastures both associated with white clover complemented with triticale (X. Triticosecale Witt.) hay during the dry season, as well as the agronomic and chemical composition of pastures and complements. An on-farm experiment was undertaken with a 4x4 Latin Square design with a factorial arrangement, using four Holstein cows. Treatments were TFH= Tall fescue with white clover + 3.0 kg dry matter(DM)/cow/day of triticale hay, RGH= Perennial ryegrass with white clover + 3 kg DM/cow/day of triticale hay, RGNH= Perennial ryegrass with white clover (no hay), and TFNH= Tall fescue with white clover (no hay). Grazing was for 8 h/day in two pastures (ryegrass and tall fescue) of 0.83 ha each, and cows received 4.45 kg DM of concentrate/cow/day. There were no significant differences (P>0.05) in sward height or net herbage accumulation.