Ewe Daily-Weight Gain Grazing \u3ci\u3eLeucaena leucocephala-Megathyrsus maximus\u3c/i\u3e CV Mombasa Silvopastoral System and Tropical Native Unimproved Range

Silvopastoral systems are a viable option to increase livestock productivity, The silvopastoral arrangement of Leucaena leucocephala associated with Megathyrsus maximus CV Mombasa (LMS) is successfully cultivated in tropical environments.. The objective of the study was to determine ewe daily-weight gain grazing LMS and a tropical unimproved native range. Two LMS were tested: high and low leucaena densities, 4700 and 2383 plants/ha, respectively. Grazing was rotational, lasted 150 d (rainy season) at equivalent stocking rate of 59 ewes/ha/150 d. Experimental design was a completely random design with three replications, the experimental unit was a 192 m2 plot. Variables measured on plots were amount (dry matter basis), in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), and crude protein (CP) of forage on-offer, from mixed samples herbaceous and tree fodder. Weight and serum concentrations of Ca, P, K, Mg, Na, Zn, Cu, and Fe were measured in ewes, daily weight gain was calculated. On average forage on-offer and IVDMD concentration were 50 and 15% higher (p \u3c 0.05) in LMS than in native range, respectively, with no difference between LMS. CP concentration was 25% higher (p \u3c 0.05) in native range than both LMS, with no difference between them. LMS’s showed no difference (p \u3e 0.05) between them on ewe daily weight gain, on average 59.2 g, and were higher than native range where ewes showed a mean daily weight loss of 14.8 g. Serum concentrations of the 8 minerals measured were similar (p \u3e 0.05) across all ewes regardless the treatments. It was concluded that the Leucaena leucocephala-Megathyrsus maximus CV Mombasa silvopastoral system is an option to improve livestock productivity compared with unimproved native range due to higher forage on-offer