Pre-Weaning Growth of Criollo Tropical Milking Calves fed with Milk from Silvopastoral Systems

Objective: Tropical Milking Calf (LT) growth and milk consumption and chemical composition were analyzed in two shepherding systems. Methodology: 26 LT cows were used in rotational shepherding in monoculture (PRM) and intensive silvopastoral system (SSPi). Cows were milked by hand once per day in the morning with the presence of the calf, which consumed milk from one nipple. Live weight (PV), daily weight gain (GDP), milk consumption (CL) by the calf and the chemical composition of the milk were studied. Results: PV was greater at 198 days in SSPi (p ? 0.05) with 142.6 ± 3.31 kg, and one GDP that outweighed the PRM (p ? 0.05) in 80 g per day-1. There were no differences in CL (p > 0.05). Non-fatty solids, protein, lactose and total solids were greater (p ? 0.05) for SSPi with 8.1 ± 0.07, 3.0 ± 0.02, 4.5 ± 0.04 and 12.1 ± 0.21 %, respectively; although fat was similar (3.7 and 3.3 %, p > 0.05) in both systems. Implication: The chemical composition of milk should be assessed from the nutritional perspective for the calf and the more appropriate techniques for its measurement should be implemented. Conclusions: PV and GDP were greater in SSPi than in PRM due to the chemical composition and not the amount of ingested milk. The chemical composition of milk affected the pre-weaning growth of calves. The tropical milking race and SSPi are an alternative for tropical livestock raising in warm weathers.