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Publication Date
1981
Description
Cattle production is important in Santa Cruz but is low in productivity, due in part to low grazing value of natural pastures, particularly in the dry season. Other constraints to cattle production include low land values, poor management, high cost of inputs, and relatively low product prices. This program is aimed at providing higher-quality, low-cost pastures for complementary use within traditional grazing systems. Improved introduced species were identified for five agro-ecological zones, and commercial seed production of the following was encouraged: Petri guineagrass (Panicum maximum), Brachiaria decumbens, buffelgrass (Cenchrus ciliaris), glycine (Neonotonia wightii, formerly Grycine wightii), Archer axillaris (Macroryloma axillare), lablab bean (L. purpureus), and stylo (Srylosanthes guianensis). The value of legume-based pastures was measured and demonstrated in grazing trials, where drys season access to legumes as mixed swards or as a protein reserve significantly improved animal production. Cattle were raised to 400 kg live weight in 30 months without supplementary feeding. These results have been used in model projections to view pasture and animal production in the whole-farm context and to illustrate the economic feasibility of pasture improvement.
Citation
Paterson, R T. and Horrell, C R., "Advances in Pasture Research and Development in Santa Cruz, Bolivia" (1981). IGC Proceedings (1977-2023). 12.
(URL: https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1981/section12/12)
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Advances in Pasture Research and Development in Santa Cruz, Bolivia
Cattle production is important in Santa Cruz but is low in productivity, due in part to low grazing value of natural pastures, particularly in the dry season. Other constraints to cattle production include low land values, poor management, high cost of inputs, and relatively low product prices. This program is aimed at providing higher-quality, low-cost pastures for complementary use within traditional grazing systems. Improved introduced species were identified for five agro-ecological zones, and commercial seed production of the following was encouraged: Petri guineagrass (Panicum maximum), Brachiaria decumbens, buffelgrass (Cenchrus ciliaris), glycine (Neonotonia wightii, formerly Grycine wightii), Archer axillaris (Macroryloma axillare), lablab bean (L. purpureus), and stylo (Srylosanthes guianensis). The value of legume-based pastures was measured and demonstrated in grazing trials, where drys season access to legumes as mixed swards or as a protein reserve significantly improved animal production. Cattle were raised to 400 kg live weight in 30 months without supplementary feeding. These results have been used in model projections to view pasture and animal production in the whole-farm context and to illustrate the economic feasibility of pasture improvement.
