Pastoreo de becerros en pradera de estrella de África (<i>Cynodon plectostachyus</i>) suplementados con alimento comercial

The objective of the research was to evaluate the growth of swiss-zebu calves grazing an african star meadow (Cynodon plectostachyus), supplemented with commercial feed (CA) in Collantes, Pinotepa Nacional, Oaxaca, Mexico. Four treatments (T) were evaluated, consisting of a control only grazing (in African star) and grazing plus three levels of commercial feed 0.5 (T2), 1.0 (T3) and 1.5 (T4) kg calf-1 days-1. 16 swiss-zebu calves weighing 213.5 ± 6.5 kg and 210 ± 15 days old were used; four groups of four animals each were formed. Forage yield (RF), daily weight gain (GDP), cumulative weight gain (APG) and benefit-cost ratio (RBC) were evaluated. The evaluated variables were analyzed with the GLM procedure in a completely randomized design and the comparison of means using Tukey (α = 0.05), The RF was similar (p ≤ 0.05) in all Ts; GDP showed a difference (p ≤ 0.05) with a lower value of 0.35 kg days-1 in T1, and a higher value of 0.85 kg in T4; the RBC was different (p ≤ 0.05) with a higher value of 4.4 at T2 and a lower value at T$ 2.2. The results indicate that the dry matter yield of star grass is not affected by the treatments, the growth of the calves was substantially improved by increasing the level of supplementation, however, the benefit-cost ratio is reduced.