ChileanJAR

At the foot-hills of the “Cordillera de los Andes”, in the province of Biobío, during three consecutive seasons (1979-80, 1980-81 and 1981-82) an evaluation of a beef cattle production system was done, utilizing, as feeding source, subterranean dover (Trifolium subterraneum L.), cv. Mount Barker, and limited amounts of concentrate, In 27.3 ha, a herd of Hereford was used, and three subsystems were included: a) cows and their calves; b) replacement heifers; and c) bulls, from weaning to 18 months oid. During the first cycle, the whole herd was supplemented with roughage harvested within the system. Later on, additional land for harvested feed was estimated, according to winter feeding consumption. Continuous grazing was utilized. Nonpregnant cows were replaced by pregnant heifers. Non adjusted annual output of uve weight for the system was 195; 270 and 218 kg/ha during the first, second and third season, respectively. When adjusting to the hay and oat fed during winter, the live weight outputs were 174, 244 and 194 kg/ha, for the same cycles. Heifers reached an average uve weight of 313 kg at 13.6 months oid. Bulis reached 378 kg of live weight at 18 months oid.