R. Bras. Zootec.01/Feb/2006;35(1):75-83.
Effect of grazing intensities on animal performance grazing native pasture
DOI: 10.1590/S1516-35982006000100009
A grazing trial was carried out to evaluate the effect of two forage masses on the animal yield from natural pasture over-sown with exotic legumes species (white clover – Trifolium repens, red clover – Trifolium pratense and birdsfoottrifoil – Lotus corniculatus). The grazing method consisted of a variable continuous stocking rate over the period from July 2003 to April 2004. The experimental treatments were two forage masses: low forage mass (LFM) (1,021 kg of DM/ha) and high forage mass (HFM) (1,751 kg of DM/ha). Pasture and animal evaluations were accomplished nearly at 30 days intervals. Heavy treatment ´ experimental period interaction was observed for the stocking rate that showed an average of 690 and 437 kg of DM/ha to LFM and HFM respectively. Forage mass affected the animal average daily gain estimates of 480 and 262 g/animal/day for HFM and LFM, respectively, but had no effect on animal body weight yield per unit of land area estimates of 231 and 207 kg/ha for the LFM and HFM, respectively. These results point out that the improved natural pasture management must be accomplished under herbage mass valus near to 1,700 DM/ha, because it maintain good weight gain rate.