Complementos con base en melaza-urea para vacas de doble propósito del trópico veracruzano

The objective of this line of research was to determine what kind of molasses-urea based supplement is more appropriated for dual purpose cows raised in the humid tropics of the State of Veracruz in Mexico when this supplement was offered ad libitum during the milking period. The first experiment showed that milk yield decreased as the amount of molasses increased, and that this was a result of a decline in the diet digestibility caused by a high molasses intake rate. The second ex periment indicated that molasses plus 3% of urea was as good as a "homemade" concentrate for milk yield per co~, but better for daily weight gain, and itwas even cheaper. In the third experiment, the inclusion of bloodmeal into the molasses -urea mixture significantly improved the milk yield per cow, and was more economical. In this last experiment, daily weight gain and body condition scores were also improved. It is concluded that the best way to increase milk yield in dual-purpose cows is obtained by providing a mixture of molasses, urea and bloodmeal.