Forage performance and cattle production as a function of the seasonality of a Brazilian tropical region

Forage performance and cattle production as a function of the seasonality of a Brazilian tropical region

This study aimed to evaluate forage yield, tiller population density, canopy height, nutritional value as well as cattle performance in alternate stocking from three tropical forage cultivars. The experiment followed a randomized block design, in a 3 x 3 factorial scheme with three replications. Thr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Acta scientiarum. Animal sciences Vol. 44; no. 1; p. e53779
Main Authors: de Sousa Feitosa, Odimar, Leite, Rubson da Costa, Alexandrino, Emerson, Pires, Thiago de Jesus Saboia, de Oliveira, Leonardo Bernardes Taverny, Neto, Joaquim Jose de Paula, dos Santos, Antonio Clementino
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Maringa Universidade Estadual de Maringa 2022
Editora da Universidade Estadual de Maringá - EDUEM
Editora da Universidade Estadual de Maringá (Eduem)
Subjects:
Canopies
Cattle
Cattle production
Cultivars
Digestibility
Dry season
Forage
Leaves
Nutrients
Nutrition
Nutritive value
pasture diversification; Megathyrsus maximus; alternate stocking; Urochloa brizantha
Population density
Seasonal variations
Stems
Tropical environment
Tropical environments
VETERINARY SCIENCES
alternate stocking
Urochloa brizantha
Megathyrsus maximus
pasture diversification
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Summary:This study aimed to evaluate forage yield, tiller population density, canopy height, nutritional value as well as cattle performance in alternate stocking from three tropical forage cultivars. The experiment followed a randomized block design, in a 3 x 3 factorial scheme with three replications. Three forage cultivars (Marandu, Massai and Xaraés) distributed in nine hectares were evaluated in three dry season periods (transition wet/dry, dry, and end of dry season), with repeated measures over time. The following variables were evaluated: canopy height, leaf: stem ratio, forage mass, leaf mass, stem mass and dead material mass. Total digestible nutrients, crude protein and in vitro dry mass digestibility were evaluated regarding forage nutrition. Animal performance, using 36 eleven-month-old animals (half-blood Nelore), was evaluated by the daily average gain and weight gain by area. During pre-grazing, canopy height presented interaction among forage cultivars and the evaluated periods. The average daily gain showed no interaction among cultivars and period of the year the similarity in animal performance among the cultivars Marandu and Massai show that the Massai grass can be used as an alternative for forage diversification under an alternate management system.
ISSN:1806-2636
1807-8672
1807-8672
DOI:10.4025/actascianimsci.v44i1.53779