Management strategy for productive optimization in white Pelibuey sheep in a coastal ecosystem in southeastern Cuba

Abstract

Low productivity in coastal ecosystems, conditioned by nutrient scarcity and environmental stress, necessitates the implementation of management strategies that optimize the reproductive potential of Pelibuey sheep. This research evaluated an alternate rotational grazing system in southeastern Cuba with 80 breeding ewes, prioritizing the lambing and early lactation stages through maternity paddocks composed of improved grasses and legumes. Management included housing lambs until 60 days of age and strategic supplementation with protein plants and Cenchrus purpureus, pre-dried and ground in a 20:80 ratio. The results demonstrated the effectiveness of the strategy, achieving a 78% birth rate and a prolificacy of 1.2 lambs per birth, with an average birth weight of 2.6 kg. Weaning weights averaged 13.7 kg, and final weights of 32.2 kg for males at ten months and 27 kg for females at one year. A key finding was the drastic reduction in lamb mortality to 1.2%, demonstrating optimal health status. It is concluded that this management strategy optimizes sheep farming in challenging coastal environments, achieving competitive health and growth indicators aligned with breed benchmarks.