Feeding Systems with Legumes to Intensify Dairy Farms - cgiar

growing this cultivar in Costa Rica is that the grass can be first grazed 3 to 4
months after sowing.
Nutritive Value and Animal Production
Evaluations carried out at ECAG in Atenas showed that CP contents of
leaves are 13.5%, 10.1%, and 8.7% for the regrowth ages of 25, 35, and 45
days, respectively. The in vitro dry matter digestibility values for the same
ages were, respectively, 67.8%, 64.2%, and 60.3% . These results suggest
that cultivar Toledo has similar or slightly better forage qualities than do
other B. brizantha cultivars.
Observations made on farms in Costa Rica and information provided
by cattle producers indicate that cultivar Toledo can support a stocking rate
between 2.5 and 3.0 AU/ha during the rainy season, with a frequency of
grazing every 21-30 days. One dual-purpose farm reported that daily milk
production tended to be similar to that observed for pastures of other
Brachiaria species in association with the forage peanut (Arachis pintoi).
Initial reports from Colombia indicate that the daily milk production of a
Holstein cow is significantly less on cultivar Toledo (8.0 L/cow) than on B.
decumbens cv. Pasto Peludo or B. brizantha cv. Diamantes 1 (8.8 and 8.9
L/cow, respectively).
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Use and Management
So far, cultivar Toledo has been used only for grazing cattle, although
horses have been seen to consume tender leaves. Although little is known
about the most adequate occupation and rest periods, considering its rapid
recovery, an adequate rest period could be between 21 and 28 days. In
addition, this cultivar’s high forage production allows stocking rates higher
than 2.5 AU/ha, at least during the rainy season.
Because of its growth habit in form of tillers, this cultivar associates
well with stoloniferous legumes such as Arachis pintoi, resulting in better
soil cover and improved forage quality. These observations are still being
evaluated in Costa Rica. Although cv. Toledo is adequate for grazing,
because of its size and vigorous growth, it could be successfully used in
“cut-and-carry” forage systems.
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