Publication Date

1993

Description

A number of experiments using improved tropical pastures (mostly Digltaria decumbems cv. Transvala) for heifers were made in the south-eastern region of Brazil from 1970. The results are presented as: (A) experiments with heifers during· the nursing period, (B) experiments with heifers after. weaning and (C) experiments with heifers older than 6 months. The results and the economical analyses lead to the following conclusions: ( 1) the use of well managed, improved tropical pastures enables adequate growth and development of dairy heifers, (2) the heifers reach sexual maturity before 20 months of age, and (3) the cost of replacement heifers in systems using those pastures is much lower than in the traditional and alternative systems. Digitaria hybrids of high digestibility recently introduced to Brazil, may give further improvements in 1he growth of heifers.

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Tropical Pastures for Dairy Heifers in the South-Eastern Region of Brazil

A number of experiments using improved tropical pastures (mostly Digltaria decumbems cv. Transvala) for heifers were made in the south-eastern region of Brazil from 1970. The results are presented as: (A) experiments with heifers during· the nursing period, (B) experiments with heifers after. weaning and (C) experiments with heifers older than 6 months. The results and the economical analyses lead to the following conclusions: ( 1) the use of well managed, improved tropical pastures enables adequate growth and development of dairy heifers, (2) the heifers reach sexual maturity before 20 months of age, and (3) the cost of replacement heifers in systems using those pastures is much lower than in the traditional and alternative systems. Digitaria hybrids of high digestibility recently introduced to Brazil, may give further improvements in 1he growth of heifers.