Characterization of the plant community in a commercial dairy farm in Matanzas province, Cuba

Abstract

Objective: To characterize the plant community of the pastureland in a dairy farm under commercial conditions in Matanzas province, Cuba.

Materials and Methods: A study was conducted of the pastureland community on a Ferralitic Red soil, in a typical dairy farm of 120 animals and an area of 72,4 ha. From them, 57,8 dedicated to grazing, distributed in 29 paddocks of 1,9 ha each as average. The variables pasture availability, floristic composition of the pastureland, stocking rate and forage balance, were analyzed.

Results: The natural pastures predominated in the system, with a contribution of more than 60,0 % in the dry season and close to 70,0 % in the rainy season. The species Paspalum notatum Alain ex Flügé, Dichanthium annulatum (Forssk.) Stapf and Dichanthium caricosum (L.) A. Camus prevailed. The highest pasture yield was obtained in the rainy season (2,86 t/ha) and the lowest value, in the dry season (1,79 t/ha). Nevertheless, the dry matter supply throughout the year did not exceed 16 kg DM/animal/day. The effective stocking rate values (1,3 LAU/ha) exceeded the established optimum value. The forage balance showed a dry matter deficit higher than 3,0 kg /LAU/day in both seasons.

Conclusions: The low pasture yield throughout the year was linked to the high predominance of natural species and weeds present in the pastureland. The highest availability was reached in the rainy season. The stocking rate values are over the optimum value.