ABSTRACT


Ignacio Ruiz N.1, Ernesto Jahn B.2, Germán Klee G.3 y Marcos Figueroa R.4
 
During 4 seasons (1965-69) a combination of forage resources that would feed a fixed number of streers the entire year was studied. European-Holstein steers were used. During the first 2 years several forages were evaluated with adjustaments in the carrying capacity. During the next 2 years a beef production system, based on the forage plan, was developed. The animals were on the system from 8 months of age until sloughter. Calves born in the spring were kept under similar conditions until the final fattening period; at this point they were fed either hay harvested from the plan or industry by-products.
The forages utilized were: 1. Irrigated ladino white clover (Trifolium repens L.)grasses, used mainly for grazing. 2: Irrigated red clover (Trifolium pratense L.); used mainly for hay. 3. Subterraneum.clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) -falaris (Phalaris tuberosa L.), without irrigation, used for late winter and spring grazing. During the first winter, when 8-12 months of age, the animal were fed the hay harvested from the plan and daily gain were 0,17-0,32 Kg. During the following grazing season (sept.-may) average daily gain were 0.69-0.75 Kg. per steer. Stocking rate on a yearly basis was 4.57 steers/ha and average live weight gain was 946 Kg/ha when the animals were removed at 20 months of age. When hay was fed during the final fattening period (20-24 months of age) steers did not reach market weight (500 Kg) at 2 years of age and they had to be fattened on pasture for another 4 months; besides, the carrying capacity on this treatment declined to 1.55 head/ha/year and the output dropped to 464 Kg/ha. When animals were fed industry by-products (85% sugar beet pulp 15% rapeseed meal) during the final fattening period, carrying capacity and production per hectare was more than doubled, when compared with hay, and these steers reached market weight at 2 years during one of the two cycles studies. Percentage grazing area to harvest area changed according to the feeding used during the final fattening period.
Key words:
1Ing. Agr., Ph. D., Estación Experimental Quilamapu, Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (INIA), Casilla 426, Chillán, Chile.
2Ing. Agr., M. S., Subestación Experimental Humán, Los Angeles, Chile. Actualmente en V.P.I y S.U., Blacksburg, Virginia.
3Ing. Agr., Subestación Experimental Humán, Los Angeles.
4Ing. Agr., M.S., Estación Experimental Quilamapu, Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias (INIA), Casilla 426, Chillán, Chile.