Aiming to assess the steer grazing behavior, an experiment was carried out with pastures composed by italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) and black oat (Avena Strigosa Schreb) submitted to different sward heights (10, 20, 30, and 40 cm). The sward heights were distributed in an experimental randomized block design with three replicates. Data was recorded by visual assessment, from sunrise until sundown, in three evaluation dates, two in the vegetative stage and one in the reproductive stage. The evaluated variables […]

This study aimed to estimate genetic parameters and to select genotypes of forage peanut with greater ground cover and aerial biomass production during establishment period in the environmental conditions of Acre. The experiment was planted in December/2005, in a randomized block with four repetitions. Twenty one genotypes of forage peanut were evaluated, including three cultivars: Amarillo, Alqueire 1, and Belmonte. Genotype selection was based on ground cover and dry matter production. The ground cover evaluations took place between January and […]

The work was carried out with the aim to verify the response of a cv. Tifton 85 pasture, in Depressão Central of Rio Grande do Sul state, to pig slurry (PS) fertilization, in the rates of 0, 15, 30 and 45 m3/ha/cutting, between October/03 and February/04, totalizing 0, 60, 120 e 180 m3/ha in the spring-summer. The PS was applied after cuttings, in: 15/10/2003 (uniformizing cutting), 11/24/2003, 1/10/2004 and 2/5/2004. The last cut was done in 4/10/2004 and then it […]

Two experiments were carried out to evaluate structural characteristics and crude protein concentration of Pennisetum purpureum cv. Cameroon and Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu under four rotational stocking rates. During the rainfall period, the studied stocking rates for both pastures were 3, 4, 5, and 6 steers/ha and in the dry period the stocking rates were 2, 3, 4, and 5 steers/ha. In both experiments, elephantgrass cv. Cameroon produced greater total herbage mass and green herbage mass, which decreased with the […]

Two trials were conducted to evaluate losses of Marandu grass silages using different additives. The fermentation profile and aerobic stability of the silages were evaluated on the first trial. The followings silages were evaluated: 1 – Marandu grass (Control), 2 – Marandu grass plus L. plantarum and Propionibacterium, 3 – Marandu grass plus L. buchneri, 4 – Marandu grass plus 0.1% of sodium benzoate. On the second experiment, it was utilized nine castrated Nellore steers (Body weight 350 ± 38.9 […]

This work aimed to evaluate the forage value of a brown-seed grass (Paspalum plicatulum) population, considering bromatological aspects and dry matter accumulation. Plants were obtained from tussocks and they were established in a weed-free area 80 cm apart from each other. The experimental design was completely randomized and treatments consisted of plant age after establishment characterized by days (D) and degree-days (DD) accumulated above 0ºC. Harvests were performed at ground level in late-spring (27 D, 587 DD), mid-summer (68 D, […]

This study tested the influence of different forage allowances during the growing season on vegetation dynamics and animal performance. Treatments consisted of different herbage allowances (kg DM/100 kg liveweight/day, expressed in %) and different combinations of herbage allowances in sequence: 4.0%, 8.0%, 12.0%, and 16.0% herbage DM allowance during the entire year; 8.0% herbage allowance in Spring and 12.0% in Summer/Autumn; 12.0% herbage allowance in Spring and 8.0% in Summer/Autumn; 16.0% herbage allowance in Spring and 12.0% in Summer/Autumn. The […]

It was evaluated the shading effect induced by two tree densities of a ten-year-old slash pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm.) forest, and at full sun, on forage dry matter yield and nutritive value of three cool-season annual grasses. Treatments were a combination of two main factors: a) three light conditions induced by two tree densities (333 e 555 stems/ha) and at full sun; b) three cool-season annual forage grasses: Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.), common oat (Avena sativa L.) cv. Fapa-2, […]

The population dynamics of tillers and tissue turnover were investigated in pastures of Pennisetum purpureum Schum. cv. Cameroon submitted to different stocking rates under rotational stocking. Two experiments were carried out and the experimental area was characterized by a mean annual rainfall of 1,311 mm and average temperature of 25ºC. In the rainfall period the stocking rates were 3, 4, 5, and 6 steers/ha; in the dry period the stocking rates were 2, 3, 4, and 5 steers/ha. The most […]

This work aimed to evaluate the effect of two swine deep beddings (SDB): rice husk (CA) and sawdust coarse (MA) on the production of natural pasture. The predominant species in this pasture were Axonopus sp. and Paspalum sp. that was sod-seeded with the forage legumes birdsfoot trefoil and white clover. The SDBs were applied in amounts equivalent to 180, 360, 540, and 720 kg/ha of P2O5. In order to achieve the target P application, different levels of CA (30, 60, […]