Nutritional status and reproductive performance of cattle agroecosystems in silvopastoralism in the Andean region of Ecuador

The goal of this study was to find out how silvopastoral systems with Alnus acuminata H.B.K. (Alder) and Acacia melanoxylon R.Br. (Acacia) along with the herbaceous layer affect the nutritional status and reproductive performance of agroecosystems (AES) in Ecuador's Andean region with silvopastoral cattle. AES 1 and 2 contained alder and Acacia, respectively, and AES 3 contained grasses only. We determined the effect of AES and year on reproductive indicators and body condition at calving (BCC) using multifactorial ANOVA and interaction. There was an energy deficit in the second year in AES 1 and 3, and in all three years in AES 2. There was an excess of crude protein in all three AES in all three years. The first service parity interval (FPSI) was lower (P < 0.05) in AES 1 and in years 2 and 3. The CCP was higher (P < 0.05) in AES 1, and the services per gestation were higher (P < 0.05) in the first year. Calving-conception (CCP) and calving-delivery (DDP) intervals were lower in AES1 and in years two and three. We conclude that Alder and Acacia favored nutrient balance in AES 1 and 2. In AES 1, CCP was higher, and IPPS was reduced; the interaction between AES and the year of study benefited CPI and IPP, which were better in AES 1, in the third year.