Mombasa Performance And Parasite Load In a Guaje-Mombasa Silvopastoril System In El Limón, Morelos, Mexico

Abstract

The objective was to determine agronomic attributes of Mombasa and parasite load in the Megathyrsus
maximus cv. Mombasa-Leucaena leucocephala cv. Cuningham (guaje) silvopastoril
system at guaje densities of 0, 2105 y 4394 guajes ha-1. Experimental design was completely
random with three replications, experimental unit was a 190 m2 plot grazed by three ewe lambs
in fall 2015 and summer 2016. Mombasa tended to show the same amount of forage on-offer
at all guaje densities; but in summer showed lower forage on-offer than in fall. In vitro digestibility
and crude protein decreased in both seasons as guaje density increased. The highest
parasite load was found at no guajes planted, five times higher than the treatments with some
guaje planted. Mombasa performance and parasite load are sensible to guaje incorporation to
the system.