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The sustainability of small-scale dairy systems in the highlands of Central Mexico is limited by the economic scale due to a high dependence of external inputs, particularly commercial concentrates, as well as the use of low-quality straws that result in high feeding costs which result in low profitability. Grazing of irrigated cultivated pastures based on temperate grasses reduces feeding costs, improves profitability and hence the sustainability of these systems. However, pasture species must be assessed for their adaptation to the agroecological and management conditions of small-scale dairy farms. Therefore, the objective was to evaluate bromegrass (Bromus catharticus Vahl cv Matua) as a pasture resource in comparison with two varieties of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L cv Bargala and cv Payday) and Festulolium (cv Spring Green), in two participatory on-farm experiments in spring and autumn. The first experiment (EXP 1) compared Matua bromegrass (MBRG) with Bargala perennial ryegrass (BPRG), on their own or as a 50:50 mixture of the two grasses. The second experiment (EXP 2) compared Matua bromegrass (MBRG) with Pay Day perennial ryegrass (PDRG) and Festulolium cv Spring green (SGFL). All pastures in both experiments were associated with white clover (Trifolium repens cv Ladino). There were no statistically significant differences found in EXP 1 (P>0.05) for animal production variables with a mean milk yield of 19.41±0.14 kg/cow/day. On the other hand the second experiment showed significant differences (P<0.05) in milk yield for Matua bromegrass (16.7 kg cow/day), 9% less tan for Pay Day perennial ryegrass and Spring Green festulolium. It was concluded that Matua bromegrass showed similar performance to Bargala perennial ryegrass in spring but less than Pay Day perennial ryegrass and Spring Green festulolium in autumn. It is necessary to further investigate if differences were due to a season effect in order to fully establish the value and role of bromegrass as a viable pasture grass species for irrigated pastures in small-scale dairy systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective was to assess the productive performance of milking dairy cows grazing festulolium (Lolium multiflorum x Festuca pratensis variety Spring Green) or two varieties of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) variety Bargala and variety Payday in small-scale dairy systems in central Mexico. Six Holstein cows were used in a set of two 3 X 3 Latin Squares design. Treatments were continuous grazing for 10 h/d of Bargala, Payday or Spring Green festulolium pastures, supplemented with 5 kg of commercial compound concentrate cow/day. Animal variables were milk yield, live weight, body condition score and fat and protein content in milk. In pastures variables were net herbage accumulation (NHA), sward height, and chemical composition of hand-plucked samples of herbage in terms of crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF) and the enzymatic in vitro digestibility of organic matter (IVDOM). There were no significant differences (P>0.05) among treatments for milk yield, milk composition or live-weight; nor there were differences (P>0.05) for pasture variables. Spring Green festulolium performed similarly in pasture and animal variables as Bargala or Payday perennial ryegrasses. It is concluded that the three grasses under grazing are adequate for small-scale dairy systems with no advantage in using festulolium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cereals such as triticale may contain high levels of xylans and arabinoxylans, limiting its use in diets since they act as anti-nutritional factors. The objective was to evaluate the effects of the enzyme xylanase included in triticale-based diets on productive performance, digestibility, carcass traits and meat quality in growing-finishing rabbits. Eighty rabbits (New Zealand X California breed), 35 days old, with an average initial live weight of 821 ± 26 g, were used. Twenty animals for treatment were used in each one of the fourth experimental treatments: 0, 4000, 8000 and 12,000 XU/kg of xylanase inclusion (XilaBlend 6X). The rabbits were fed ad libitum and fecal excretion was collected on days 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35 of the experimental period. At the end of the experimental period, the rabbits were slaughtered and carcass characteristics and meat quality were measured. A higher (P < 0.05) live weight was observed in rabbits fed diets with the addition of xylanase enzyme on days 4 and 7 of the experimental period. On the other hand, in the average total tract digestibility of organic matter, no significant difference was observed, similar to what occurred in the carcass traits and nutritional quality of the meat. The inclusion of 8000 XU/kg of xylanase enzyme provided the best values of apparent digestibility of total tract protein and dry matter on the finished stage of rabbits., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Small-scale dairy systems face reduced availability of water for irrigation of pastures and disruption in the amount or pattern of rains due to climate change, so research on alternative short-cycle rain-fed forages is needed. Grazing reduces feeding costs and small-grain cereals may be an option. The objective was to assess on-farm the performance of dairy cows grazing 6 h/day of three small-grain cereals: rye (RYE), wheat (WHT), and triticale (TRT), and supplemented 4.5 kg dry matter (DM)/cow/day of concentrate. Twelve Holstein cows were used in repeated 3 × 3 Latin squares with 14-day experimental periods. Pasture variables were analysed with a split-plot design, and economic analysis was performed with partial budgets. Sampling of forage (sward height, net herbage accumulation, botanical and chemical composition of herbage) and animal variables (milk yield and composition, live weight, and body condition score) were at the end of each period. The RYE showed a trend (P > 0.05) for higher net herbage accumulation (NHA) with highly significant differences (P < 0.001) among periods. The RYE had higher DM, a lower crude protein (CP) content (P < 0.05), and no differences for other chemical components between treatments (P > 0.05). The RYE proportion in pasture was consistently higher, whilst the lowest cereal proportion was in WHT. There were no differences (P > 0.05) for any animal variable. The RYE and TRT treatments proved useful as rain-fed forage alternatives under grazing. WHT showed lower crop and economic performance. However, given the higher cereal component in pastures, regrowth potential, and post-grazing herbage mass, as well as better economic performance, the RYE treatment was better ranked by the participating farmer., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

The dry season in central Mexico is a difficult time for small-scale dairy systems to meet feed requirements for their herds as pasture growth is limited. Conserved forage options are needed to complement pastures. The objective was to assess on-farm the production of dairy cows complemented with triticale silage (X. Triticosecale Witt. (TSL)) at two levels of inclusion (5.0 and 7.5 kg DM/d), grazing pastures of two grass species during the dry season: perennial ryegrass (PRG; Lolium perenne) or tall fescue (TFC; Lolium arundinaceum) (TFC) with white clover (Trifolium repens), and 4.65 kg DM/d concentrate. Experimental design was a 2 × 2 factorial in repeated 4 × 4 Latin squares. Chemical composition of TSL was 96 g CP/kg DM, 667 g NDF/kg DM, 713 g in vitro enzymatic digestibility of OM (IVEDOM)/kg DM, and pH of 4.6. There were differences (P < 0.05) in net herbage accumulation (NHA) and sward height between pastures, with higher NHA in TFC than that in PRG, although the chemical composition of PRG was higher (P < 0.05) in PC, IVEDOM, and estimated ME. There were no differences (P > 0.05) in milk yield (12.3 ± 2.63 kg/cow/day), milk compositions (33.1 ± 0.45 g milkfat/kg, 41 33.3 ± 0.21 g milk protein/kg, 47.9 ± 0.36 g lactose/kg, and 10.47 ± 2.25 mg MUN/dL), body condition score (2.4 ± 0.22), or live weight (490 ± 72.8 kg). At a higher inclusion of TSL, there was lower intake of pasture. Inclusion of 5.0 kg DM/cow/day of triticale silage better complements grazing and sustains moderate milk yields when pasture growth and intake are limited.