Physicochemical and Preference Evaluation of Silages from Cucurbita argyrosperma Huber Residues and Its Effect on the Production and Composition of Milk from Dual-purpose Cows in Campeche, Mexico: Pilot Study

Laura Patricia Valdez-Arjona, María Esther Ortega-Cerrilla, Silvia Fraire-Cordero, Jesús Arreola-Enríquez, María Magdalena Crosby-Galván, Alvar Alonzo Cruz-Tamayo and Mónica Ramírez-Mella
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Laura Patricia Valdez-Arjona: Programa en Bioprospección y Sustentabilidad Agrícola en el Trópico, Colegio de Postgraduados Campus Campeche, Campeche 24450, Mexico
María Esther Ortega-Cerrilla: Programa de Recursos Genéticos y Productividad-Ganadería, Colegio de Postgraduados Campus Montecillo, Estado de México 56230, Mexico
Silvia Fraire-Cordero: Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología, Colegio de Postgraduados Campus Campeche, Campeche 24450, Mexico
Jesús Arreola-Enríquez: Programa en Bioprospección y Sustentabilidad Agrícola en el Trópico, Colegio de Postgraduados Campus Campeche, Campeche 24450, Mexico
María Magdalena Crosby-Galván: Programa de Recursos Genéticos y Productividad-Ganadería, Colegio de Postgraduados Campus Montecillo, Estado de México 56230, Mexico
Alvar Alonzo Cruz-Tamayo: Escuela Superior de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Autónoma de Campeche, Escárcega, Campeche 24350, Mexico
Mónica Ramírez-Mella: Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología, Colegio de Postgraduados Campus Campeche, Campeche 24450, Mexico

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 18, 1-15

Abstract: Livestock systems can contribute to food security by making use of available resources not suitable for human consumption such as Cucurbita argyrosperma Huber residue (CR). The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate preference and physicochemical characteristics of CR silages and their effect on milk production and milk composition from cows in a dual-purpose system in Campeche, Mexico. Three completely randomized experiments were performed. In experiment 1, physicochemical characteristics of four CR plus hay grass silages were evaluated: CR-77, CR-71, CR-65 and CR-59, containing 77%, 71%, 65% and 59% of CR, with 25%, 30%, 35% and 40% of estimated dry matter (DM), respectively. In experiment 2, silages intake preferences were determined in cattle. In experiment 3, the effect of CR silage or corn silage on milk production and milk composition of grazing cows in a dual-purpose system was evaluated. The results in experiment 1 showed that DM content differed between treatments ( p < 0.05), ranging from 27.35% (CR-77) to 41.81% (CR-59) and estimated DM was similar to the actual values. pH and temperature were also different ( p < 0.05). pH was different between CR-71 (4.01) and CR-59 (4.43), and temperature between CR-77 (28.87 °C) and CR-65 (29.5 °C). Crude protein (CP) was very low in all silages (<4%), particularly in CR-59 (2.8%) ( p < 0.05), and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) was significantly ( p < 0.05) higher with CR-65 and CR-59 (average: 79.6%) than CR-77 and CR-71 (average 75.1%). There were no differences in intake preference (experiment 2), milk production (average 3.7 L) or milk composition (average protein: 3.27%, fat: 2.26%, lactose: 5.23%, solids non-fat: 9.17%) (experiment 3) ( p > 0.05), but differences in DM intake of silages in experiment 3 were observed ( p < 0.05). Even with the limitations of this pilot study, it is feasible to produce silages with CR with a good fermentation process as a feeding alternative for cows in a dual-purpose system in Campeche, Mexico.

Keywords: pumpkin; cattle; vegetable residue; ruminant nutrition; new feedstuffs (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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