Silvopastoral systems as an alternative for early weaning of Zebu calves

摘要

TwoweaningsystemswerecomparedwithZebucowsandtheircalves:thetraditionalmethodinwhichthecalveswereseparatedfromtheirdamsandheldinapenwithdirtfloorwith(DTS)orwithout(DTNS)supplementation;andtheproposedalternativeinwhichtheweanedcalveswereinapasturewithtreeswith(DPS)orwithout(DPNS)supplementationduringtheweaningprocess..Calfgrowthratesinthemonthfollowingweaningwerelowerinthetraditionalsystemwithnosupplementation(DTNS)comparedwiththeothertreatments,withanindicationthatweaningthecalvesinasilvopastoralsystemwithsupplementation(DPS)gavethebestresults.Bodyweightchangesofthedamsstronglyfavouredthesystemofweaninginasilvopastoralsystemwithcalfsupplementation(DPS).Itisconcludedthatgivingcalvesaccesstoanbsp;silvopastoralsystematthetimeofweaninghasbeneficialeffectsontheliveweightchangeofboththecalvesandtheirdams,andthatsupplementationofthecalvesduringtheweaningperiodprovidesfurtherbenefits.