R. Bras. Zootec.01/Jul/2002;31(4):1624-33.
Winter Animal Production in TanzaniaGrass Deferred in the Autumn and Managed in Different Sward Heights
DOI: 10.1590/S1516-35982002000700004
The experiment was conducted to evaluate the average daily liveweight gain (ADLG), number of animal.days/ha (AD/ha) and liveweight gain/ha (LG/ha), in a Tanzaniagrass pasture deferred in different sward heights in the autumn and after managed in different sward height conditions, during the winter period. A completely randomized design was used. The treatments were four levels of sward height: T1=20, T2=40, T3=60 and T4=80 cm. However, the average sward height levels maintained in a pasture was used for the statistical analysis, and these were: T20R1 = 26.3, T20R2 = 24.6, T40R1 = 47.9, T40R2 = 42.5, T60R1 = 55.8, T60R2 = 61.7, T80R1 = 69.2 and T80R2 = 71.4 cm. The different sward heights were maintained under continuous stocking method and variable stocking rate. The ADLG decreased as the sward height levels increased. There was no effect of sward height with LG/ha and number of animal.days/ha. The results showed that Tanzaniagrass pastures in the northwest region of Paraná, deferred after reproductive phase, could be used in 40 to 60 cm of sward height.