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, […]

The objective of this trial was to evaluate the effects of chemical additives in the dry matter losses, fermentation profile, and nutritive value of sugar cane silages. The trial was carried out in a completely randomized experimental design with four replicates per treatment. The following additives were applied to the fresh forage during the ensiling: control (without additive), L. buchneri, calcium oxide and calcium carbonate,1.0 and 1.5% (wet basis) each, and calcium sulfate 1.0% (wet basis), all of them diluted […]

The objective was to utilize exploratory data analysis techniques for evaluating dry matter production (DMP) obtained from 16 cuts of 92 accessions of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). A significant effect on DMP was observed both within and among cuts; the coefficient of variation ranged from 17.7% (cut 2) to 51.7% (cut 9). The DMP data obtained from 16 cuts of 92 accessions of alfalfa did not fit to the normal distribution. The skewness coefficients were negative for dry matter production […]

The research was carried out comprising one rainy season and two dry seasons. The objective was to evaluate the influence of irrigation on stocking rate (SR), weight gain (WG) intake, nutrient intakes and in vivo digestibility in elephantgrass and mombaçagrass, under rotational grazing. Combinations of the two grasses and two irrigation levels (with and without) were evaluated. Data from dry season and rainy season were analyzed separately. Irrigation was performed restore up 100% mean evapotranspiration (ET0) of the last ten-year. […]

Forage growth dynamic in an Oat (Avena strigosa, Schreb) + Ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum, Lam) pasture managed at different grazing heights was evaluated in order to access the mixed-sward potential in a crop-livestock integrated system. Treatments were four sward grazing heights (10, 20, 30, and 40 cm), measured with a sward-stick. The experimental design was a random block with three replications. The grazing method utilized was continuous stocking with variable stocking rate. Beef steers weighting 210 kg with approximately 10 month […]

The objective of this study was to evaluate chemical additive and microbial inoculants effectiveness on fermentative changes that lead to the inhibition of the ethanol production and reduction of dry matter losses in sugarcane silages. Silos were made in 20 liter plastic buckets provided with a Bunsen type valve that allows gas to escape and a device to collect effluents. The applied additives were urea (1% of fresh forage); microbial additive Lalsil cana®, that has heterolactic bacteria Lactobacillus buchneri (NCIMB […]

The objectives of this trial were to quantify the water soluble carbohydrates (WSC) concentration present in sugarcane that nullifies ethanol production, and to evaluate the effects of WSC content on nutritive value and other fermentative characteristics of sugarcane silage. A completely randomized design was used with three treatments and four repetitions per treatment. Sugarcane was squeezed in order to remove juice. In the first treatment, juice was totally added back to sugarcane (100%). In the second treatment, only 50% of […]