Technical-productive characterization of a dairy farm at the livestock production enterprise of Matanzas

Mariano Rosabal Arias

ABSTRACT
This work was conducted in 2010 at the dairy farm 116 of the Super Vaca farm, belonging to the livestock production enterprise (EPGM, for its acronym in Spanish) located in the Limonar municipality, Matanzas province. In order to make a technical-productive characterization of a dairy unit at the EPGM, the methodology of the diagnosis of agricultural systems was used as basis to propose solutions to the observed deficiencies. This farm has a total surface of 80,83 ha, from which 63,04 ha are for grazing. The natural pastures were maintained over 50 %; the species Dichanthium caricosusm, Dichanthium annulatum and Paspalum notatum prevailed. No significant differences were found among the availability values; in all the cases they were between 1,6 and 2,5 t DM/hectare/rotation. Significant differences were found (P<0,001) between the average milk production shown by the cows in the bimesters July-August and September-October (9,5 and 10,0 kg/animal/day, respectively) with regards to the one shown in the bimesters March-April (6,6 kg/animal/day) and January-February (7,8 kg/animal/day). In the other bimesters the cows showed moderate milk productions without significant differences. It is concluded that the lack of feeding basis in sufficient quantity and quality of pastures prevented an adequate management. It is recommended to transform the pasturelands of the farm with the introduction of a silvopastoral system, funded by the Enterprise through a project of technological innovation.