Canopy characteristics and behavior of Nellore heifers in Brachiaria brizantha pastures under different grazing heights at a continuous stocking rate

The objective of this study was to evaluate the Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu canopy structure maintained at different grazing heights under a continuous stocking rate and with a dietary supplementation strategy for the animals during the rainy season. This study also intended to observe the relationships of these variables with the grazing behaviors of the heifers. The effects of three canopy heights (15, 25 and 35 cm) were evaluated in association with three types of supplements: one mineral and two protein/energy supplements, the first with a high rumen degradable protein and energy and the others with a low ratio. Both the protein/energy supplements were provided at 0.3% of body weight/day. The experimental design was completely randomized, with two replications and repeated measures, and took place during the period from January to April 2008. The supplementation strategies did not affect any variable related to the canopy structure. Total and green herbage masses and the ratio of green/dead material increased with canopy height. The leaf/stem ratio was higher in the lowest canopy height: 15 cm. Changes in the canopy structure caused variations in the grazing behavior of the animals. Animals maintained in the 15-cm-tall pasture grazed for a longer time, increasing the time for each meal, but the number of meals was lower than that of the animals grazing within the 35-cm-tall pasture. The grazing time of animals receiving the energy/protein supplement was lower only in the period of the day during which it was supplied. Canopy structure is affected by sward height, and changes animal behavior. Supplementation does not affect the canopy structure of the pastures with similar heights.

Massa de forragem, composição morfológica e química de capim-tanzânia sob diferentes dias de descanso e altura de resíduo pós-pastejo

The experiment was conducted at UNESP/FCAV, Jaboticabal, SP, with the objective of evaluating the influence of the rest period and height of the residue post-grazing on the dry matter mass, morphologic composition and on the chemical composition of the Tanzania-grass pre-grazing condition, under rotational grazing. The treatments consisted of the combination of two rest periods (25 and 35 days) and two residue height post-grazing (30 and 50 cm), as a complete randomized design in factorial arrangement 2 x 2, with three replications, with the grazing cycles considered as sub plots. The herbage mass of stem, leaves, dead material and the leaf: stem ratio were significantly influenced (P<0.05) by the grazing cycles. The percentage of CP in the leaf and stem and the NDF in the stem, leaf and whole plant were influenced positively (P<0.05) by the grazing cycles. It was observed that the short rest periods associated with the smallest residue height post-grazing presented the best results in terms of herbage mass and chemical characteristics of the herbage.

Desempenho de novilhos alimentados com dieta suplementar em pastos de capim-mombaça

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of supplements feeding on growth of calves grazing a Panicum maximum cv. Mombaça pasture during the dry season. The experimental design was a randomized blocks with three treatments and three replications. The treatments were: mineral salt ad libidum; multiple mixture (MM) fed at 0.2% of live weight (PV); and, concentrate feed (SC) fed at 0.7% of PV. Thirty six weaned calves averaging eight months and 192 kg of initial live weight were utilized. The masses and pasture components, nutritive value and rate of forage growth were evaluated. Animal performance was measured as average daily gain (ADG) and live weight gain (LWG). The supplemental feeding was adjusted after weighing. There was no difference between periods for forage mass and leaf: stem ratio. The highest values for forage green mass, leaf blades mass and stem percentage were observed in the first trial period. The canopy height and the available forage on offer did not differ among treatments. The percentage of dead was higher for the last periods of evaluation. The leaf: stem ratio and the leaf percentage were greater in the second period. There was significant difference (p<0,05) among treatments for the ADG and were 250, 460 and 770 g/day for salt, MM and SC, respectively. The biggest LWG was observed in the treatment SC. contents of PB, DIVMO, NDF and LDA on leaf blades, thatched roofs and dead material dead not differ among treatments. The highest GPV was observed in the SC treatment. The contents of PB, DIVMO, NDF and LDA for leaf blades stem and dead material did not differ among treatments. Independent of the use supplements , it is possible to keep steers gaining weight, during dry season, since the stocking rate is appropriately adjusted

Atributos estruturais e produtivos de capim-marandu em resposta à suplementação alimentar de bovinos e a ciclos de pastejo

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar as alterações estruturais e produtivas de capim-marandu (Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu) em resposta à suplementação alimentar de bovinos e a ciclos de pastejo. Os níveis de suplementação com concentrado à base de polpa cítrica, milho, farelo de soja e ureia foram 0,2, 0,6 e 1% do peso vivo. O delineamento experimental foi o de blocos ao acaso, com arranjo em parcelas subdivididas no tempo, com os níveis de suplementação nas parcelas e os ciclos de pastejo nas subparcelas. Os efeitos da suplementação alimentar dos animais sobre o pasto foram detectados sobre o índice de área foliar, interceptação luminosa e relação folha/colmo, em pré-pastejo. Os menores valores foram observados na suplementação de 0,2% do peso vivo. No pós-pastejo, a massa de folhas e a relação folha/colmo foram menores com a menor suplementação (0,2%). Os ciclos de pastejo afetaram as características produtivas e estruturais do pasto, bem como os índices morfogênicos do capim-marandu. Apenas a massa de material morto aumentou, enquanto o número e o peso de perfilhos não foi afetado pelos ciclos de pastejo. O pasto de capim-marandu foi influenciado pela suplementação alimentar dos bovinos. Com o suceder dos ciclos de pastejo, do verão para o outono, há redução do crescimento do pasto, com prejuízos à sua estrutura.

Respostas do híbrido de sorgo-sudão às adubações nitrogenada e potássica: características estruturais e produtivas

A pesquisa foi instalada no Setor de Forragicultura da FCAV/UNESP-Jaboticabal, para avaliar o híbrido de sorgo-sudão AG 2501C no outono e inverno. O manejo da pastagem foi conduzido, simulando o sistema de lotação intermitente. O experimento foi desenvolvido de março a setembro de 2002. A forrageira foi submetida a nove tratamentos: três doses de N (100, 200 e 300 kg/ha) e três doses de K (0, 80 e 160 kg/ha de K2O), em delineamento experimental de blocos casualizados com três repetições em esquema de parcelas subdivididas. As características estudadas foram massas, secas, inicial de planta inteira, folha e colmo e massa seca residual; relação lâmina/colmo; índice de área foliar (IAF); interceptação da radiação fotossinteticamente ativa (RFA) e coeficiente de extinção luminosa. Os tratamentos não influenciaram a massa seca inicial (MSI) e residual (MSR) da planta inteira, folha e colmo e massa seca residual. Os resultados médios para MSI, MSR, folha e colmo foram 2801,2; 964,7; 1462,8 e 1085,2 kg/ha de MS, por ciclo de pastejo, respectivamente. Houve redução da relação lâmina/colmo e da porcentagem de folhas, enquanto a porcentagem de colmos aumentou. Houve interação entre N e K para IAF, interceptação de luz e coeficiente de extinção.

Perfilhamento e algumas características morfológicas do capim-elefante cv. Roxo sob quatro alturas de corte em duas épocas do ano

O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar o efeito dos cortes efetuados a 0, 15, 30 e 45 cm sobre algumas características morfofisiológicas do Pennisetum purpureum, Schum. cv. Roxo nas épocas seca e chuvosa no Brejo Paraibano. As amostras foram obtidas de uma área útil de 8,4 m² de cada parcela. Após o corte de uniformização, efetuaram-se dois cortes no período seco, em intervalos de 90 dias, e três no período chuvoso, em intervalos de 60 dias. Foram avaliados os seguintes parâmetros: perfilhamento, altura das plantas, porcentagens de folhas e colmos e relação folha/colmo (RF/C). Aos 25 dias após cada corte, foram feitas as contagens dos perfilhos existentes nas parcelas. de cada parcela tomou-se uma amostra de 3 a 5 perfilhos, seca em estufa, e separaram-se as frações de folhas e colmos. Houve interação dos fatores (altura x época do corte) quanto ao número de perfilhos por m² e à RF/C. No período chuvoso, houve mais perfilhos basais que no período seco, e o número de perfilhos aéreo foi superior em todos os cortes acima do nível do solo. A RF/C foi superior na época chuvosa nas alturas de 30 e 45 cm do solo. Cortes mais altos apresentaram maior proporção de folhas e menor proporção de colmos. Os percentuais de folhas na época chuvosa foram maiores que os da época seca.

Produção de matéria seca e proteína bruta e relação folha/colmo de genótipos de capim-elefante aos 56 dias de rebrota

Doze genótipos de capim-elefante foram avaliados em um delineamento em blocos ao acaso com três repetições. A parcela experimental foi composta de quatro linhas com 3 m de comprimento, espaçadas a 1 m e adubadas com 100 kg de P2O5, 100 kg de N, 60 kg de K2O e 25 kg de micronutrientes/ha. Os genótipos diferiram significativamente quanto à altura da planta e à produção de MS, de PB e matéria seca digestível (MSD)/ha. Os genótipos CNPGL 92-94-01, CNPGL 92-79-02, CNPGL 91-06-02, CNPGL 94-07-02, CNPGL 94-09-01, BAG 66, CNPGL 93-32-02 e cv. Cameroon apresentaram os maiores rendimentos de MS, PB e MSD e não diferiram significativamente quanto à relação folha/colmo (F/C). A análise de Cluster sugeriu o agrupamento dos genótipos de maior produção de MS, PB e MSD e dos genótipos com menores produções de MS, PB e MSD.

Teor de ácido cianídrico e taxa de crescimento do híbrido de sorgo x capim sudão durante o outono

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Desempenho e composição morfológica de duas cultivares de Brachiaria brizantha submetidas a intensidades luminosas

Pós-graduação em Zootecnia - FMVZ

Avaliação agronômica e modo de reprodução de híbridos intraespecíficos de Brachiaria decumbens

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Morforgênese e estrutura de pastos de capim-tanzânia manejados com diferentes índices de área foliar residual, mantido sob lotação intermitente por caprinos

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Massa de forragem, composição química do capim-massai e comportamento ingestivo de ovinos durante a fase de implantação do eucalipto em sistema silvipastoril

Pós-graduação em Zootecnia - FCAV

Utilização de composto orgânico de peixe em adubação de capim-marandu

Pós-graduação em Zootecnia - FCAV

Desempenho de bovinos de corte em pastos de Brachiaria brizantha cv. Xaraés manejados em diferentes alturas de pastejo

The production of grazing cattle has been very interesting, due to the low cost to produce fodder, compared to other sources of forage used to feed these animals, but the adequate management pasture has high influence on the success and profitability of cattle production systems. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine the optimum grazing height of Brachiaria brizantha cv. Xaraes, which provides the highest individual weight gain and gain per area. The stocking rate was continuous, with variable stocking rate. The experimental period was from January to December 2010. Three Nellore males were used in each experimental plot, and, when needed, additional animals were used for adjusting the desired heights. Monthly sampling was obtained to estimate forage mass (kg.ha(-1) of DM) and the structural characteristics of the pastures, such as, leaf: stem ratio. The animals were weighed at the beginning of the experiment and every 28 days, after 12 hours of fasting, to measure the average daily gain (ADG) After weighings were performed adjustments stocking rate to desired heights. Throughout the experimental period the animals received mineral supplementation. The desired sward heights were 15, 30, 45 and 60 cm, with three replicates each. The experimental design was completely randomized with four treatments and three replications. To body weight gain (BWG) and average daily gain (ADG), each animal was considered an experimental unit. To gain per area and stocking rate, the paddock was considered the experimental unit. The leaf: stem ratio showed a linear increasing behavior in the spring and summer seasons. The smaller grazing heights provided higher gain per unit area (812.15 kg ha(-1)), while the highest grazing heights promoted high individual weight gain (0.790 kg.dia(-1)). The results suggest that Xaraes grass pastures should be grazed between 30 and 45 cm to allow reasonable performances by area and individual performances.

Características produtivas e morfológicas do capim Tanzânia em diferentes intensidades de pastejo

The objective of this study was to determine the best height of the Tanzania grass under grazing, assessing morphological and productive characteristics of the sward. This experiment was conducted in Cidade Gaucha, Parana, where he was rated the accumulation rate and morphological characteristics of Tanzania grass pastures grazed at 20, 40, 60 and 80 cm grazing under continuous stocking with variable stocking rate for beef cattle. The experimental area was 12 hectare divided in paddocks of one hectare each. For each paddock were allocated two grazing exclusion cage for estimating herbage accumulation, and eight samples were taken every 28 days throughout the year 2010. The completely randomized design. The herbage mass of the morphological structures showed a linear positive function of sward heights. The height of defoliation did not influence the rate of herbage accumulation for any of the morphological structures: green leaf, stem + sheaths and senescent material. There were also no differences in leaf: stem ratio. All heights within the range studied provided adequate number of green leaves per tiller. Tanzania grass pastures grazed under continuous stocking between 40 and 60 cm, for providing a good association between accumulation and mass of green leaf blades, and acceptable values of the mass of stem + sheaths and senescent material. Pasture of Tanzania grass under 60 and 80 cm allow of leaves satisfactory accumulation in the autumn.