scholarly journals Grazing behaviour, herbage intake and animal performance of beef cattle heifers on marandu palisade grass subjected to intensities of continuous stocking management

2012 ◽  
Vol 151 (5) ◽  
pp. 727-739 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. C. DA SILVA ◽  
F. M. A. GIMENES ◽  
D. O. L. SARMENTO ◽  
A. F. SBRISSIA ◽  
D. E. OLIVEIRA ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Accumulation Rate ◽  
Body Weight Gain ◽  
Seasonal Pattern ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Grazing Management ◽  
Animal Performance ◽  
Herbage Intake

SUMMARYThe ability to adapt to a range of edaphic conditions favours the widespread use of marandu palisade grass in high as well as low input systems of animal production in Brazil. However, little information exists regarding the influence of grazing management practices on sward structure and the carry-over effects on animal responses. The present experiment was planned to evaluate animal behaviour, herbage intake (HI) and nutritive value, herbage accumulation and body weight gain (BWG) of beef cattle heifers grazing marandu palisade grass subjected to intensities of continuous stocking management. Treatments corresponded to four sward surface heights (SSH: 100, 200, 300 and 400 mm) and were allocated to experimental units (1200 m2 paddocks) according to a randomized complete block design with four replications. Herbage accumulation rate (HAR) varied with season of the year and SSH, with highest and lowest values recorded during summer and winter, respectively. During the summer, herbage accumulation was larger on swards managed at 200, 300 and 400 mm, with the opposite occurring during winter/early spring. Stocking rate (SR) and number of grazing days (GD) followed a similar seasonal pattern of variation, with values decreasing as SSH increased. Crude protein (CP) and in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) of hand-plucked herbage decreased as SSH increased from 100 to 400 mm, while the inverse happened with BWG (from 0·190 to 0·930 kg/day, respectively). Bite mass (BM) increased and rate of biting and grazing time (GT) decreased as SSH increased, with daily HI being larger on tall (300 and 400 mm) relative to short (100 and 200 mm) swards. Grazing management affected the nutritive value and the amount of herbage consumed, particularly through changes in BM. However, variations in intake were relatively more important than variations in nutritive value in influencing animal performance, highlighting the importance of providing favourable harvest conditions for grazing animals by establishing adequate sward targets for management.

scholarly journals Animal performance and sward characteristics of Mombaça guineagrass pastures subjected to two grazing frequencies

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristiane A.F. Alvarenga ◽  
Valéria P.B. Euclides ◽  
Denise B. Montagner ◽  
André F. Sbrissia ◽  
Rodrigo A. Barbosa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Management Practices ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Accumulation Rate ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Incident Light ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Panicum Maximum ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Animal Performance ◽  
Daily Gain

The aim of this work was to compare grazing management practices of Mombaça guineagrass (Megathyrsus maximus syn. Panicum maximum cv. Mombaça) based on the sward incident light interception (LI) concept. We tested, when the regrowth period in rotationally stocked Mombaça guineagrass ended, if LI (90 or 95%) affected forage accumulation, sward characteristics and animal performance. Both treatments had a common post-grazing canopy height of 50 cm and were replicated 4 times in a randomized complete block design. Pastures were sampled pre- and post-grazing to determine forage mass, morphological composition and forage accumulation rate (FAR). Nutritive value (NV) was estimated in pre-grazing samples. Stocking rate was adjusted twice a week, and animals were weighed every 28 days. Pre-grazing conditions of 90 and 95% LI were reached at pasture heights of approximately 80 and 90 cm, respectively. FAR, sward structure and NV were similar for pastures grazed at 90 and 95% LI. Consequently, stocking rate, average daily gain and liveweight gain/ha were similar for both LI treatments. Data suggest that Mombaça guineagrass can be grazed at pre-grazing heights of 80–90 cm (90–95% LI) without compromising pasture structure and animal performance provided moderate defoliation severity is employed. Further testing of this grazing strategy over longer periods should be carried out with this species as well as other tropical grasses.

scholarly journals Advances in Pasture Management and Animal Nutrition to Optimize Beef Cattle Production in Grazing Systems

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andressa Scholz Berça ◽  
Eliéder Prates Romanzini ◽  
Abmael da Silva Cardoso ◽  
Luís Eduardo Ferreira ◽  
André Pastori D’Aurea ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Nutrient Utilization ◽  
Utilization Efficiency ◽  
Animal Performance ◽  
Pasture Management ◽  
Negative Contribution ◽  
Rumen Undegradable Protein ◽  
Increasing Demand ◽  
Livestock Systems

The increasing demand of meat requires the adoption of sustainable intensification livestock systems, applying nutritional strategies to reduce any negative contribution from beef cattle to global warming and, at the same time, to increase animal performance and productive efficiency. The pasture management practices and feed supplementation, mainly using non-edible feed with less costs, could minimize environmental and social impacts, resulting in higher productivity with less inputs utilization. Tropical grass submitted to grazing management according to plant height present high soluble protein and low levels of indigestible neutral detergent fiber contents. Energy or rumen undegradable protein supplementation, associated to alternative additives to antibiotics effects, such as probiotics, tannin, essential oils and saponin, can help to fully exploit the animal genetic potential and nutrient utilization efficiency, which decreases greenhouse gases emissions and improves animal performance. Hence, more information about these tools can make the livestock systems in tropical pasture more efficient and eco-friendlier.

The Grazing Habits of Beef Cattle

1944 ◽  
Vol 1944 (02) ◽  
pp. 74-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. B. Johnstone-Wallace
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Agricultural Science ◽  
Grazing Management ◽  
Cornell University ◽  
Management Problems

The paper as presented consisted of extracts from “Grazing management practices and their relationship to the behaviour and grazing habits of cattle ”, by D. B. Johnstone-Wallace and Keith Kennedy, Department of Agrostology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, which appears in the Journal of Agricultural Science, Vol. 34, Part 4, October 1944. The following excerpts are published by permission of the editors of the Journal of Agricultural Science. As a result of experiments and observations made on the field at Cornell University between 1931 and 1939, a more distinct study of grazing management problems was commenced, the results of which to date are discussed in this paper.

PSXI-19 Impact of toxic-infected tall fescue renovation strategies on second-year hay yield, botanical composition, and nutritive value

2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 344-345
Author(s):  
Charlotte L Talbott ◽  
Deidre D Harmon ◽  
Matt H Poore ◽  
Alan J Franluebbers ◽  
Carolyn A Young ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Forage Yield ◽  
Agronomic Performance ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
Randomized Complete Block Design ◽  
Second Year

Abstract Renovating toxic-infected tall fescue (Lolium arundinaceum) (TF) pastures to novel endophyte tall fescue (NE) is a solution to mitigate the negative associated effects of toxic fescue in beef cattle. However, beef cattle producers are uncertain of the payback period for costs associated with renovation techniques in terms of farm profitability and agronomic performance. In 2018, three renovation strategies were implemented in a randomized complete block design in Bahama, NC. Strategies included: 1) control (C), 2) renovation to NE after one season of a single specie cover crop (1-SM), 3) renovation to NE after three seasons of a single specie cover crop (3-SM), and 4) renovation to NE after three seasons of a multi-specie cover crop (3-CM). Each treatment plot (0.81 ha) was evaluated for botanical composition and hay was harvested in May and August of 2020. Round bales from each treatment were weighed to determine yield and core sampled to determine nutritive value. Data were analyzed using proc GLIMMIX of SAS v9.4. Combined forage yield was greater (P = 0.0226) for 3-CM (8,816 kg/ha) compared to 3-SM (7,191 kg/ha) and C (6,920 kg/ha), but did not differ from 1-SM (7,775 kg/ha). Crude protein concentration was greater (P = 0.035) for C (10.2%) in comparison to 3-SM (9.35%) in harvest 1, but was not different (P = 0.93) in harvest 2. Percentage of fescue in the sward was greatest (P = 0.0002) for 3-SM and least for C (84.9 and 62%, respectively). Similarly, presence of undesirable plants was greater (P < 0.0001) for C (37.5%) than 1-SM, 3-CM and 3-SM (23.7, 15.2 and 12.7%, respectively). Percentage of bare ground did not differ among treatments (P = 0.31). Data suggest agronomic performance for 3-CM and 3-SM was improved compared to C in years following pasture renovation.

scholarly journals Sward structure and short-term herbage intake in Arachis pintoi cv. Belmonte subjected to varying intensities of grazing

2017 ◽  
Vol 156 (1) ◽  
pp. 92-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. P. Silva ◽  
C. A. Fialho ◽  
L. R. Carvalho ◽  
L. Fonseca ◽  
P. C. F. Carvalho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Intake Rate ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Tropical Pastures ◽  
Dairy Heifers ◽  
Bite Rate ◽  
Sward Height ◽  
Herbage Intake ◽  
Sward Structure

AbstractThe use of forage legumes has been proposed as a means of generating sustainable grazing environments. Their limited use, particularly in tropical pastures, is partially due to the limited knowledge regarding the efficiency of utilization by animals. The present study characterized the sward structure, nutritive value and ingestive behaviour of dairy heifers in pastures of peanut cv. Belmonte under continuous stocking management. Treatments corresponded to sward heights of 5, 10, 15 and 20 cm, according to a randomized complete block design, with four replications. The following response variables were evaluated: vertical distribution of the morphological components within the sward, forage mass, nutritive value (simulated grazing), bite rate (BR), bite mass (BM) and short-term herbage intake rate (STIR). The top half of the sward height was mainly composed of leaves and the bottom half mainly of stolon and dead material regardless of management height. Greater values of neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre were recorded during autumn, while higher values of in-vitro dry matter (DM) digestibility (0·85) occurred during spring regardless of management height for the grazed stratum. In relation to treatments, greater values of crude protein were recorded on swards managed at 5 cm (0·27) and 10 cm (0·26). Bite rate, BM and STIR varied with sward height, but not with a season of the year. The STIR followed a broken line response to sward height, with increasing values up to 13·1 cm (106 g DM/kg body weight). Sward structure played an important role in determining the STIR. To maximize the STIR of dairy heifers under continuous stocking management, swards should be managed at heights of not <13·1 cm.

scholarly journals Animal Performance with and without Supplements in Mombaça Guinea Grass Pastures during Dry Season

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Itânia Maria Medeiros de Araújo ◽  
Gelson Dos Santos Difante ◽  
Valéria Pacheco Batista Euclides ◽  
Denise Baptaglin Montagner ◽  
Rodrigo Da Costa Gomes
Keyword(s):  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Panicum Maximum ◽  
Animal Performance ◽  
Dry Period ◽  
Protein Energy ◽  
Guinea Grass ◽  
Energy Supplementation

The objectives were to: 1) evaluate the potential of the animal performance on Panicum maximum cv. Mombaça (mombaça guinea grass) pasture during dry season, and 2) determine the effects of protein or protein-energy supplementation on liveweight gain of steers grazing guinea grass pasture. A complete randomized block design was employed with three treatments and three replicates. Treatments included non-supplemented animals (NS) and animals supplemented with protein (PS) or protein-energy (PES), provided at 0.15% or 0.6% of body weight for 115 days, during dry period. We used 36 weaned calves from initial bodyweigh (LW) of 192 kg (±5 kg) on nine plots of mombaça guinea grass (1.25 ha each). Each month, animals were weighed and pastures sampled to estimate forage characteristics. The average daily gain (ADG) was greater (P = 0.0001) for cattle fed supplement than for cattle fed no supplement (250 g steer-1), and greater for protein-energy supplement (770 g steer-1) than for protein supplement (460 g steer-1). Mombaça guinea grass pastures with 45 cm height at the end of the wet season have enough forage mass for maintenance throughout the dry season about 1.4 AU ha-1 (AU = 450 kg BW), and reasonable nutritive value (average of 8,1% of crude protein and 55,3% of in vitro organic matter digestibility) to provide small gains. Considering the nutritive value of Mombaça guinea grass during the dry period, protein and energy supplementation is required for weaned calves to optimize their performance.

scholarly journals Enhancing landowner adoption of the Natural Resource Conservation Service’s recommended beef cattle grazing management practices

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 56-69
Author(s):  
Taylor Olsovsky ◽  
Robert Strong
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Natural Resource ◽  
Nonpoint Source Pollution ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Resource Conservation ◽  
Nonpoint Source ◽  
Grazing Management ◽  
Natural Resource Conservation

Water has a significant role in society, whether through human consumption or agricultural use. The Lavaca Watershed is an agricultural community affected by nonpoint source pollution, and water quality protection is of high concern. Beef cattle operations are linked to nonpoint source pollution which contaminates surrounding water sources. If proper grazing management practices are not used, wastes from the operation impair water quality in the area. Landowners should use proper stocking rates and implement best management practices to benefit land and water quality in addition to overall operation profit. Females reported a higher intention to adopt, indicating these respondents are more open to practice changes on their own operation. Results indicated a need for the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and Texas Soil and Water Conservation Board to conduct further outreach to increase interaction with landowners. NRCS agencies could help increase the use of water conservation plans and inquiries by making this clear to current landowners participating in their program as well as potential clients by sending informational flyers or speaking at local organizational gatherings. The importance of adopting water management practices and barriers to adoption are ongoing global concerns.

scholarly journals Forage characteristics and beef cattle production in perennial pastures of BRS Paiaguás and BRS Piatã in integrated crop livestock system

2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (5) ◽  
pp. 2979-2992
Author(s):  
Bianca Midori Souza Sekiya ◽  
◽  
Gelci Carlos Lupatini ◽  
Cristiana Andrighetto ◽  
Franciely de Oliveira Neves ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Animal Feed ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽  
Animal Performance ◽  
Cattle Production ◽  
Beef Cattle Production ◽  
Urochloa Brizantha ◽  
Livestock System

The integrated crop-livestock system is highlighted in Brazilian agriculture, in which the synergism between the components can increase productivity and animal performance. Forage is one of the most important components because it is the basis of animal feed. Thus, the objective of the study was to evaluate the beef cattle production and pastures characteristics of Urochloa brizantha ‘BRS Piatã’ and ‘BRS Paiaguás’, under continuous grazing in an integrated crop livestock system. The experiment was conducted in west of Sao Paulo State, in a randomized complete block design with two treatments and three replicates, from October 2018 to June 2019. The treatments were 3-year-old pastures of BRS Piatã and Paiaguás, in an integrated crop livestock system with perennial pasture and soybean. Nellore steers (14 ± 2 months old and 244 ± 13 kg initial weight) were used. The grazing method adopted was a continuous stocking with a variable rate to maintain a pasture height of 30 cm. Herbage mass was 5716 and 5480 kg dry matter ha-1 for Piatã and Paiaguás, respectively. The crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber were similar between the two cultivars. The leaf blade mass of BRS Piatã was greater than that of BRS Paiaguás in summer. Animal performance was similar between treatments, with average daily gain of 0.901 and 0.822 kg day-1 and weight gain per area of 888 and 865 kg ha-1 in Piatã and Paiaguás, respectively. The BRS Piatã and BRS Paiaguás grasses are indicated for use in perennial pastures in integrated crop livestock systems.

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