CONSUMO E DESEMPENHO DE VACAS GUZERÁ E GIROLANDO NA CAATINGA DO SERTÃO PERNAMBUCANO

Abstract

With In many areas of the Northeast semi-arid, the native vegetation of caatinga is the main fodder support for ruminants feeding. This experiment was accomplished to evaluate Guzera and 5/8 Holstein/Zebu milk production, having the caatinga vegetation as the base of their diet and with energetic and protein supplement. Eight animals from the two races, with 60 days of lactation and 450 kg of live weight, in the beginning of the experiment, were distributed in two Latin Squares (4X4). Each experimental period lasted 21 days, being 14 for the adaptation of the animals to the ration and seven for the collection. The milk production ranged from 5.29 to 6.19 kg/cow/day for the different treatments. The animals, which received supplementation, produced more milk than those that did not receive it. There were no significant differences among the supplementations. The milk fat percentage did not vary among the treatments. An average consumption of 2.2% of live weight was observed. The animals from the 5/8 Holstein/Zebu had a bigger intake of dry matter, and more milk production than those from the Guzera race.