Technical efficiency of a production system with mestizo cattle for the dairy basins of Piaui and Maranhão States

Abstract

A system for dairy cattle was tested at Embrapa Middle-Northern Parnaíba, PI, Brazil, during 1999
and 2000. In this system were evaluated, in an integrated way, several technologies adapted or generated for that region. Thirty-five girolanda cows were used, and maintained grazing on diversified pastures of elephant, brachiaria, mombaça and tanzania grasses. The pasture periods varied from three to five days, with additional
use of leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala) as protein supply. Cows in lactation producing above 5kg of milk a day received a ration supply of 1kg for each 3kg of produced milk. The interval between deliveries (14,5 months), nursing period (284,8 days), milk production for cow a day (8,8kg), and for lactation (2.492,6kg) confirm the technical efficiency of this system.