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 […]

The objective of this study was to assess the sward canopy structure of Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu pastures maintained in three grazing intensities under continuous stocking system during the rainy season, along with the behavior and performance of grazing beef heifers supplemented with mineral salt or an energy/protein supplement. Three levels of forage allowance were assessed: 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0 kg of forage/kg of live weight, combined with two supplements (ad libitum mineral salt, and an energy/protein supplement at 0.3% […]

The experiment was carried out with the objective of evaluating attributes of pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum) and Alexander grass (Urochloa plantaginea) pastures and to relate them with ingestive behavior of beef heifers. The experimental design was complete randomized, with repeated measures over time, with two treatments and two area replications. Grazing method was continuos stocking and variable number of animals to keep canopy height at 40 cm. Mass of leaf blade, stem and dead material, forage accumulation rate, leaf/stem ratio, […]

It was studied performance, behavior and forage ingestion by beef heifers on pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum (L.) Leeke) and Alexander grass (Urochloa plantaginea) pastures from January to April 2008. The continuous grazing method with a variable number of animals was used. Forage ingestion was estimated during vegetative and reproductive stage of forage plants using chromic oxide as fecal production marker. Evaluations of behavior were carried out by visual observation in four 24-hour continuous periods. Mean values of forage mass, forage […]

The feeding behavior and dry forage intake of ewe lambs receiving different types of supplementation on pearl millet (Pennisetum americanum (L.) Leeke) pasture was evaluated. Twenty-four ewe lambs with 30.2 ± 2.6 kg mean initial body weight (BW), distributed in three feeding strategies: grazing on pearl millet pasture; grazing on pearl millet pasture supplemented with cassava meal; and GL – grazing on pearl millet pasture supplemented with corn gluten meal. Supplements were provided in the amount of 1% of BW. […]

The effect of supplementation on ingestive behavior and displacement patterns of beef heifers grazing on Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) pasture was evaluated. The grazing method was continuous with variable stocking rate. The experimental design was completely randomized with repeated measures on time. The supplement utilized was a commercial ration (17% CP, 21.4% NDF), daily supplied at 2 pm, in the proportion of 1% of body weight. The evaluations were made through visual observations, in four continuous periods of 24 […]

Ingestive behaviour of beef heifers and sward structural characteristics of Pearl Millet (Pennisetum americanum (L.) Leeke) were evaluated. The experiment was carried out in a randomized complete design following a repeated measure arrangement (three experimental periods) with three replications of two leaf blade masses (600 and 1,000 kg/ha DM), which were maintained using continuous grazing with variable stocking rate. The variables measured were sward height, herbage mass, leaf blade and stem bulk density in sward vertical strata (sward structural characteristics), […]

The experiment was performed in a natural pasture to evaluate the effect of the forage offer level on the pasture structure and ingestive behavior of steers. A completely randomized block design with four daily green forage offer levels (4, 8 12 and 16 kg GFDM/100 kg LW) and two replicates was used. The continuous grazing method with variable stocking rate was used. The increasing forage offer enhanced the higher strata frequency and determined higher inferior strata height. The increasing inferior […]

The relationship between the pasture structure, environmental variables and the ingestive behavior of crossbred Ile de France-Texel lambs on a mixed winter pasture of oats (Avena strigosa Schreb.), Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.), and red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) under four grazing intensities (‘very high’, ‘high’, ‘average’, and ‘low’) was evaluated. Intermittent grazing was used, considering the thermal sum of 300 degree-days to determine the grazing interval. The evaluations of ingestive behavior were made by visual observation, in four continuous […]

This study aimed to describe the feeding and spatial behavior of beef heifers under rotational stocking, in response to the dynamics of the morphological functional types (TFs) in natural grassland. Stocking rate was adjusted to keep an average of 12% (12 kg DM/100 kg BW) of forage allowance. Animal activity was registered from 12 to 27 February 2003 using the Ethosys automatic device. Thirty permanent field sampling units comprised by five adjacent 0.20 x 0.20 m squares were used to […]