Sward height determines animal performance on limpograss (Hemarthria altissima cv. Flórida) pastures

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laíse da Silveira Pontes ◽  
Karina Petkowicz ◽  
Giliardi Stafin ◽  
Taíse Robinson Kunrath
Keyword(s):  
Animal Performance ◽  
Sward Height ◽  
Hemarthria Altissima

scholarly journals Maintaining post-grazing sward height of Panicum maximum (cv. Mombaça) at 50 cm led to higher animal performance compared with post-grazing height of 30 cm

2017 ◽  
Vol 73 (1) ◽  
pp. 174-182 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. P. B. Euclides ◽  
G. C. Carpejani ◽  
D. B. Montagner ◽  
D. Nascimento Junior ◽  
R. A. Barbosa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Panicum Maximum ◽  
Animal Performance ◽  
Sward Height

The effect of grazed sward height and stocking rate on animal performance and output from beef cow systems

1996 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
pp. 199-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. A. WRIGHT ◽  
T. J. MAXWELL ◽  
A. J. F. RUSSEL ◽  
E. A. HUNTER ◽  
A. R. SIBBALD ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Animal Performance ◽  
Beef Cow ◽  
Sward Height

How do animal performance and methane emissions vary with forage management intensification and supplementation?

2020 ◽  
Vol 60 (9) ◽  
pp. 1201 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. F. W. Koscheck ◽  
E. P. Romanzini ◽  
R. P. Barbero ◽  
L. M. Delevatti ◽  
A. C. Ferrari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Methane Emission ◽  
Production System ◽  
Methane Emissions ◽  
Nutrient Digestibility ◽  
Animal Performance ◽  
Beef Production ◽  
Pasture Management ◽  
Sward Height ◽  
Enteric Methane ◽  
Enteric Methane Emissions

Context Yields from Brazilian beef-production systems do not always match the expected potential of a forage-based beef-production system. This efficiency is dependent on adjustments of grazing intensity and supplement utilisation to achieve higher bodyweight gain and lower methane emission. Therefore, more studies are necessary to evaluate the association between pasture management and supplement doses. Aims The aim of the present study was to determine nutrient intake, nutrient digestibility, animal performance, carcass characteristics and enteric methane emissions of young Nellore bulls grazing Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu pastures. Methods One hundred and forty-eight yearling bulls (230 ± 17 kg) were randomly assigned to a grazing-by-supplementation strategy that was designed to allocate three different sward heights with differing levels of supplementation during the wet season. Treatment combinations were (1) low sward height with high supplementation (LH-HS, 15-cm sward height and supplementation at 0.6% of bodyweight (BW)); (2) low height with moderate supplementation (LH-MS, 15 cm and 0.3% BW); (3) moderate height with moderate supplementation (MH-MS, 25 cm and 0.3% BW); (4) moderate height with low supplementation (MH-LS, 25 cm and 0.1% BW); (5) high height with low supplementation (HH-LS, 35 cm and 0.1% BW); and (6) high height with no supplementation (HH-WS, 35 cm). Key results Bulls in the HH groups had a greater herbage intake than did those in the LH groups (P < 0.01). Bulls in the LH-HS treatment resulted in a greater (P < 0.01) carcass average daily gain than that obtained with LH-MS, MH-LS or HH-WS treatment. Higher stocking rate with the LH treatment resulted in greater gains per hectare in terms of both BW and carcass (P < 0.01). Carcass yield was greater for bulls maintained with the LH-HS treatment (54.3% BW). Higher enteric methane emissions were observed from bulls under the HH treatments (P < 0.01). Conclusions Comparing carcass gains per hectare and low methane emissions, the present study indicated that pasture management towards a low sward height combined with 0.3% or 0.6% BW supplementation can result in a greater nutrient utilisation efficiency of bulls. Implications Results provided information to obtain better gains per animals and area, also decreasing methane emission of beef cattle production system.

scholarly journals Grazing Intensity Impacts on Herbage Mass, Sward Structure, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, and Animal Performance: Analysis of Brachiaria Pastureland

Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 1750
Author(s):  
Ana Cláudia Ruggieri ◽  
Abmael da Silva Cardoso ◽  
Fernando Ongaratto ◽  
Daniel Rume Casagrande ◽  
Rondineli Pavezzi Barbero ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Grazing Intensity ◽  
Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽  
Animal Performance ◽  
Gas Emissions ◽  
Sward Height

A 7 year experiment (2008–2014) evaluated cattle grazing intensity (sward height) effects on herbage mass, forage quality, and greenhouse gas emissions in continuously stocked pastures containing the tropical ‘Marandu’ palisade grass (Brachiaria brizantha (Hochst. ex A. Rich) Stapf cv. Marandu). The experiment consisted of three sward height treatments (15, 25, and 35 cm) and six replicates. There were four periods each year during the rearing phase. Significant effects were found for herbage mass, proportions of leaf and stem, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, lignin, animal performance, enteric methane (CH4), and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from soils. When the canopy height increased from 15 to 35 cm, the herbage mass rose from 5.23 to 9.86 kg t ha−1, leaf percentage decreased, and stem percentage increased. Crude protein content averaged 14.2%, and neutral detergent fiber averaged 58%. Average daily gain averaged 0.67, 0.81, and 0.90 kg −1 head−1, while live weight gain ha–1 was 649, 530, and 439 kg for the 15, 25, and 35 cm treatments, respectively. The weather variables explained the GHG emissions, interannual herbage mass, and structure variations.

Sward height determines pasture production and animal performance in a long-term soybean-beef cattle integrated system

2020 ◽  
Vol 177 ◽  
pp. 102716 ◽  
Author(s):  
Taise Robinson Kunrath ◽  
Pedro Arthur de Albuquerque Nunes ◽  
William de Souza Filho ◽  
Mónica Cadenazzi ◽  
Carolina Bremm ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Integrated System ◽  
Animal Performance ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Sward Height

scholarly journals The Effect of Frequency of Fresh Pasture Allocation on Pasture Utilisation and the Performance of High Yielding Dairy Cows

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 2176
Author(s):  
Jessica G. Pollock ◽  
Alan W. Gordon ◽  
Kathryn M. Huson ◽  
Deborah A. McConnell
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
The Other ◽  
Grazing Management ◽  
Energy Output ◽  
Animal Performance ◽  
Sward Height ◽  
Utilisation Rate ◽  
High Production ◽  
Grazing Behaviour

Pasture allocation frequency (PAF) can influence pasture availability and grazing behaviour, which subsequently may impact on animal performance. Limited research to-date has investigated grazing management methods to improve the performance of high production dairy cows whilst also achieving high grass utilisation rates. This study evaluated the effect of three different PAF’s (12, 24 and 36 h) on pasture utilisation, the performance of high yielding dairy cows and the interaction with parity. The experiment included two 60-day periods, 90 spring calving dairy cows (27 primiparous animals) in period one and 87 (24 primiparous animals) in period two. The average pre-grazing sward height (11.4 cm) was similar for all treatments in both periods. In period one, pasture utilisation rate was significantly higher (8%) in the 36 h compared to the 12 h treatment. In period two, milk energy output was significantly greater for primiparous animals in the 36 h treatment relative to the other treatments.

Lamb growth performance and rate of finishing In relation to sward height and herbage mass on set-stocked swards

1987 ◽  
Vol 1987 ◽  
pp. 38-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Lloyd ◽  
G. Swift ◽  
S. Swanston ◽  
A. Hunter ◽  
J. M. Doney
Keyword(s):  
Growth Performance ◽  
Animal Performance ◽  
Test Animal ◽  
Grazing Season ◽  
Sward Height ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Lamb Growth

Experiments designed to test animal responses to sward manipulation suggest that ewe performance and lamb growth are positively related to herbage mass and thus sward height (1,2,3,). From this component research, it is suggested that to maximise herbage production and animal performance during the main grazing season, sward heights should be maintained within the range of 4 to 6 cm; herbage mass should not exceed 1600 kg DM/ha (4,2). This trial was set up to test the efficacy and sensitivity of this approach in a set-stocked, grass lamb finishing system.

scholarly journals Grasslands Kahu timothy: quality pasture for animal performance

1993 ◽  
pp. 127-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.R. Stevens ◽  
M.J. Casey ◽  
J.D. Turner ◽  
G.S. Baxter ◽  
K.B. Miller
Keyword(s):  
Physiological State ◽  
Performance Testing ◽  
Red Clover ◽  
Phleum Pratense ◽  
Late Spring ◽  
Animal Performance ◽  
Grazed Pasture ◽  
Sward Height ◽  
Feeding Value ◽  
Livestock Systems

Evaluations of Kahu timothy (Phleum prutense L.) included agronomy under mowing (1976-1979) and grazing (1980-1983), and animal performance from grazed pasture (1988-1993) and silage feeding (1989-1991). Agronomic testing showed that Kahu timothy was slow to establish, producing only 28% of the Grasslands Ruanui ryegrass (L.&urn perenne L.) swards in the 6 months after sowing. Frequent, close defoliation severely reduced the yields of timothy and caused losses of plants, reducing longevity. A less frequent defoliation regime with a residual sward height of 30-50 mm gave the greatest sustainable yields. Under mowing Kahu produced significantly less than S51 timothy in summer and winter but under grazing Kahu was superior in spring and summer, resulting in significantly greater annual production. Animal performance testing showed hoggets grazing timothy in spring grew at 218 g/day, significantly greater than the 164 g/day achieved on Grasslands Nui ryegrass. The spring stocking rate on timothy was also significantly greater than on ryegrass, though utilisation of the forage was similar. When fed timothy/red clover silage lambs fed in winter grew at 98 g/day while lambs on standard ryegrass/ cocksfoot/white clover silage averaged a growth rate of only 44 g/day. From the assessment of the physiological state of individual tillers it was observed that timothy had a significantly higher proportion of its tillers with growing points present above ground through late spring and summer than ryegrass. This is suggested as a major reason for the depletion of timothy populations -under close grazing. When grazed correctly in late spring and summer timothy can provide a perennial forage of high feeding value for livestock systems. Keywords: animal performance, Grasslands Kahu, pasture quality, Phleum pratense

Sward height controlled by ewe and lamb grazing

1986 ◽  
Vol 1986 ◽  
pp. 80-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret S Griffiths ◽  
C James
Keyword(s):  
Lolium Perenne ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Animal Performance ◽  
Sward Height ◽  
Physical Data ◽  
Grazing Behaviour

Previous work has shown that a sward height of 3-5 cm for sheep is the most efficient way of maintaining a balance between new .growth and decayed material. An unreplicated experiment was carrried out during 1985 using 77 cross-bred ewes and their Suffolk x twin lambs to graze a perennial ryegrass sward (Lolium perenne) cv Wendy between 29 April and 22 July (weaning). Animal performance was monitored and grazing behaviour noted. Sward height measurments were taken twice weekly with an HFRO sward stick on a 0.4 ha plot (P) and on the remaining 5.8 ha field (F). Grazing commenced on each area when the sward height reached 4 cm ± 1 and was maintained at this height on P by adjusting animal numbers. Physical data was recorded from a minimum core flock of 5 ewes and 10 lambs. Area F was set stocked at 12.4 ewes/ha. Areas F and P received 198 kg N/ha in total, applied at monthly intervals between early April and July. Net herbage accumulation was recorded at 21 day intervals under exclusion cages on each area.

scholarly journals Mechanisms of Grazing Management in Heterogeneous Swards

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (20) ◽  
pp. 8676
Author(s):  
Arthur Pontes-Prates ◽  
Paulo César de Faccio Carvalho ◽  
Emilio Andrés Laca
Keyword(s):  
Mechanistic Model ◽  
Temporal Distribution ◽  
Dry Mass ◽  
Grazing Management ◽  
Intake Rate ◽  
Animal Performance ◽  
Sward Height ◽  
Vegetation Heterogeneity ◽  
Grazing Systems ◽  
Spatio Temporal

We explored the effects of heterogeneity of sward height on the functioning of grazing systems through a spatially implicit mechanistic model of grazing and sward growth. The model uses a population dynamic approach where a sward is spatially structured by height, which changes as a function of defoliation, trampling, and growth. The grazing component incorporates mechanisms of bite formation, intake, and digestion rates, but excludes sward quality effects. Sward height selection is determined by maximization of the instantaneous intake rate of forage dry mass. For any given average sward height, intake rate increased with increasing spatial heterogeneity. Spatio-temporal distribution of animal density over paddocks did not markedly affect animal performance but it modified the balance of vegetation heterogeneity within and between paddocks. Herbage allowance was a weak predictor of animal performance because the same value can result from multiples combinations of herbage mass per unit area, number of animals, animal liveweight, and paddock area, which are the proximate determinants of intake rate. Our results differ from models that assume homogeneity and provide strong evidence of how heterogeneity influences the dynamic of grazing systems. Thus, we argue that grazing management and research need to incorporate the concept of heterogeneity into the design of future grazing systems.

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