Inclusion of maize or oats-vetch silage for grazing dairy cows in small-scale campesino systems in the highlands of central mexico

Abstract

The productive and economic response of cows fed 6 kg DM/day of maize (Zea mays) (MS) or oats-vetch (Avena sativa-Vieia sativa) (OVS) silage under 9 hi day continuous grazing of ryegrass-white clover pasture was evaluated at a stocking rate of 4 cows/ha supplemented with 4 kg/day of commercial concentrate. Six Holstein cows were grouped in pairs by parity and lactation days and randomly assigned to treatments in a split-plot design. Mean liveweight and daily milk yields were not affected by treatments but maize silage resulted in better (P>0.05) body condition score with better returns. Thus maize silage was found superior to oats-vetch silage. © GSP, India.