Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Local feeding strategies and milk composition in small-scale dairy production systems during the rainy season in the highlands of Mexico

  • Original Research
  • Published:
Tropical Animal Health and Production Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The objective of the work was to identify local feeding strategies in small-scale dairy production systems during the rainy season in the highlands of Mexico, and to determine their effects on milk yields (MY), milk composition and economic viability. Twenty-two dairy farms were monitored by monthly visits, recording and sampling milk from between two and six cows in each farm, live-weight was also recorded. Samples from feeds used in that month were taken and feeds given to the dairy herd were weighed. Economic data was also recorded. Milk composition and milk urea nitrogen were determined, as well as chemical composition of feeds. Eighteen feedstuffs were identified, grouped in: HNH feeds—high in neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and in DM matter; HNL feeds—high in NDF but low in DM; HCh feeds—high in non-fibrous carbohydrates; and HCP feeds—high in crude protein. Four feeding strategies were identified: strategy 1 uses HND, HNL and HCP; strategy 2—HND, HNL, HCh and HCP; strategy 3 HNH and HCP; and strategy 4 HNL and HCP. Of participating farms, 73.4% followed strategy 1, 11.3% strategy 2, 11.3% strategy 4 and 3.8% strategy 3. There were no statistical differences (P > 0.05) between strategies for MY and milk composition, but there were differences (P < 0.05) for ration costs. Multiple regression analysis showed no significative (P > 0.05) model relating intake of feed groups and milk fat content, but milk protein and SNF contents were significantly explained by intake of HCP. When expressed as MY and milk components yield, milk fat yield was significantly explained by intake of all four feed groups, but milk protein and SNF yields were explained only by intake of HCP and LW. MUN excretion was explained also by HCP intake. All feeding strategies produced positive economic returns, on average generating the equivalent of 3.45 minimum wages of the area.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

ADF:

Acid detergent fibre

CP:

Crude protein

DM:

Dry matter

DMI:

Dry matter intake

EE:

Ether extract

LW:

Live-weight

MUN:

Milk urea nitrogen

MY:

Milk yield

NDF:

Neutral detergent fibre

NFC:

Non-fibrous carbohydrate

References

  • Álvarez-Fuentes, G., Herrera-Haro, J.G., Bárcena-Gama, R., Martínez-Castañeda, F.E., Hernández-Garay, A. and Pérez-Pérez, J., 2004. Calidad de la alimentación y rentabilidad de granjas Lecheras familiares del sur del valle de México, Archivos de Zootecnia, 53, 103–106.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anaya-Ortega, J. P., Garduño-Castro, G., Espinoza-Ortega, A., Rojo-Rubio, R., and Arriaga-Jordán, C. M., 2009. Silage from maize (Zea mays), annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) or their mixture in the dry season feeding of grazing dairy cows in small-scale dairy production systems in the Highlands of Mexico, Tropical Animal Health and Production, 41, 607–616.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • AOAC—Association of Official Analytical Chemists, 1990. Official methods of analysis, Vol. 1, 15th edition. AOAC, Arlington, VA, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arriaga-Jordán, C.M., Flores-Gallegos, F.J., Peña-Carmona, G., Albarrán-Portillo, B., García-Martínez, A., Espinoza-Ortega, A., González-Esquivel, C.E. and Castelán-Ortega, O.A. (2001): Participatory on-farm evaluation of the response to concentrate supplementation by cows in early lactation in smallholder peasant (campesino) dairy production systems in the highlands of central Mexico. Journal of Agricultural Science, 137: 97–103.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arriaga-Jordán, C. M., Albarrán-Portillo, B., Espinoza-Ortega, A., García-Martínez A., and Castelán-Ortega, O. A., 2002. On-farm comparison of feeding strategies based on forages for small-scale dairy production systems in the highlands of central México, Experimental Agriculture, 38, 375–388.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Banerjee. A. and Matai, S., 1990. Composition of Indian acuatic plants in relation to utilization as animal forage, Journal Acuatic Plant Management, 28, 69–73.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bastida-López, J., 2003. Análisis de la alimentación en sistemas campesinos de producción de leche en el Noroeste del Estado de México. (Tesis de licenciatura sin publicar, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México).

  • Bernal-Martínez, L.R,, Rojas-Garduño M.A., Vázquez-Fontes, C., Espinoza-Ortega, A., Estrada-Flores, J.G. and Castelán-Ortega, O.A., 2007. Determinación de la calidad fisicoquímica de la leche cruda producida en sistemas campesinos en dos regiones del Estado de México, Veterinaria México., 38, 395–407.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brito A. F. and Broderick G. A., 2007. Effects of different supplements on milk production and nutrient utilization in lactating dairy cows, Journal of Dairy Science, 90, 1816–1827.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chaney A.L., and Marbach E.P., 1962. Modified reagents for determination of urea and ammonia, Clinical Chemistry, 8, 130–132.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • COFOCALEC—Consejo para el Fomento de la Calidad de Leche y Sus Derivados A.C., 2004. NMX-700-COFOCALEC-2004. Sistema producto leche—alimento—lacteo-leche cruda de vaca—especificaciones fisicoquimicas, sanitarias y metodos de prueba. México, D.F.

  • Coleman J., Berry D. P., Pierce K. M., Brennan A., Horan B., 2010. Dry matter intake and feed efficiency profiles of 3 genotypes of Holstein-Fresian within pasture-based systems of milk production, Journal Dairy Science, 93, 4318–4331.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • CONASAMI—Comisión Nacional de Salarios Mínimos. 2011. Salarios mínimos generales por áreas geográficas 1992–2011. Secretaría del Trabajo y Previsión Social, México, D. F.: http://www.conasami.gob.mx/pdf/salario_minimo/sal_min_gral_area_geo.pdf Accessed on 3 July 2011.

  • M de Oca-Flores, E., Castelan-Ortega, O.A, Estrada-Flores, J.G., and Espinoza-Ortega, A., 2009. Oaxaca Cheese: Elaboration Process And Physiochemical Characteristics, International Journal of Dairy Technology, 62, 535–540.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Espinoza-Ortega, A., Espinosa-Ayala, E., Bastida-López, J., Castañeda-Martínez, T. and Arriaga-Jordán, C.M., 2007. Small-scale dairy farming in the highlands of central Mexico: Technical, economic and social aspects and their impact on poverty, Experimental Agriculture, 43, 241–256.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Estrada-Flores, J. G., González-Ronquillo, M., Mould, F., Arriaga-Jordán C. M., Castelán-Ortega, O. A., 2006. Chemical composition and fermentation characteristics of grain and different parts of the stover from maize land races harvested at different growing periods in two zones of Central Mexico, Animal Science, 82, 1–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • FAO—Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2010a. Status of and Prospects for Smallholder Milk Production—A Global Perspective, by T. Hemme and J. Otte. Rome. http://www.ifcnnetwork.org/extern/downloads/pdf/FAO-IFCN%20-%20Book%20small%20holder%20dairy.pdf

  • FAO—Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2010b. Un programa de políticas para la agricultura familiar. 31a Conferencia regional de la FAO para América Latina y el Caribe. Ciudad de Panamá, Panamá, 26 al 30 de abril de 2010.

  • Hall M. B., 2003. Challenges with nonfiber carbohydrate methods. Journal Animal Science, 81, 3226–3232.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Heredia-Nava, D., Espinoza-Ortega, A., González-Esquivel, C. E., Arriaga-Jordán, C. M., 2007. Feeding strategies for small-scale dairy systems based on perennial (Lolium perenne) or annual (Lolium multiflorum) ryegrass in the central highlands of Mexico, Tropical Animal Health and Production, 39, 179–188.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • IFCN—International Farm Comparation Network, 2007. Dairy Report 2007. http://www.ifcnnetwork.org/extern/downloads/pdf/DR07-web.pdf.

  • IFCN—International Farm Comparation Network, 2010. Dairy Report 2010. Extract. http://www.ifcnnetwork.org/media/pdf/DR10-Extract-lowres.pdf

  • Jenkins T. C., and McGuire M. A., 2006. Major advances in nutrition: Impact on milk composition, Journal Dairy Science, 89, 1302–1310.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Joseph-Castillo, J. (2009). Convenience sampling applied to research. Experiment-Resources.com. Scientific Method: A website about research and experiments. http://www.experiment-resources.com/snowball-sampling.html. Accessed 8 April 2011.

  • Martínez-Loperena, R., Castelán-Ortega, O.A., González-Ronquillo, M., Estrada-Flores, J. G., 2011. Nutritive value, in vitro fermentation and secondary metabolites of weeds and maize straw used for feeding dairy cattle, Tropical and Subtropical Agroecosystems, 14, 525–536.

    Google Scholar 

  • McDowell Lee R., Conrad Joe H., Thomas Jenny E., Harris Lorin E., 1974. Latin American tables of feed composition (Book). University of Florida. Institute of food and agricultural science. Center for tropical agriculture. Department of animal science, University of Florida Gainesville, Florida.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nousiainen J., Shingfield K. J., and Huhtanen P., 2004. Evaluation of milk urea nitrogen as a diagnostic of protein feeding, Journal Dairy Science, 87, 386–398.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • NRC—National Research Council, 2001. Nutrient requirements of dairy cattle, 7th revised edition. National Academic Press, Washington, DC, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ríos de Alvarez, L., Combellas, J. and Álvarez, 2005. Revisión del uso de excretas de aves en la alimentación de ovinos, Zootecnia Tropical., 23, 183–210.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tobía Carlos y Vargas Emilio., 2000. Evaluación de las excretas de pollo de engorda (pollinaza) en la alimentación animal. II. Fraccionamiento de los componentes nitrogenados y contenido de energía. Agronomía Costarricense, enero-junio, año/vol. 24, 001, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica 55–62.

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors are very grateful to the 22 small-scale dairy farmers from Aculco for sharing their experience and enabling this study. Our appreciation also to Mr. Peter Crump at the CALS Computer Lab in the University of Wisconsin for his assistance in the statistical analyses and to Ms. Laura Edith Martínez-Contreras and Ms. Lourdes Maya-Salazar for their help in the chemical analysis at the laboratory at ICAR. Our gratitude also to the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT) of Mexico for the grant for the postgraduate studies of Ángel René Alfonso Ávila.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Ciencias Agropecuarias y Rurales (ICAR), Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Instituto Literario # 100, C.P. 50000, Toluca, Estado de México, Mexico

    Ángel René Alfonso-Ávila, Angélica Espinoza-Ortega, Ernesto Sánchez-Vera & Carlos M. Arriaga-Jordán

  2. Department of Dairy Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA

    Michel A. Wattiaux

Authors
  1. Ángel René Alfonso-Ávila
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Michel A. Wattiaux
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Angélica Espinoza-Ortega
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ernesto Sánchez-Vera
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Carlos M. Arriaga-Jordán
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Carlos M. Arriaga-Jordán.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Alfonso-Ávila, Á.R., Wattiaux, M.A., Espinoza-Ortega, A. et al. Local feeding strategies and milk composition in small-scale dairy production systems during the rainy season in the highlands of Mexico. Trop Anim Health Prod 44, 637–644 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-011-9947-5

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-011-9947-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation