scholarly journals Beef heifers grazing behavior and herbage intake in natural grassland under rotational grazing

2015 ◽  
Vol 45 (11) ◽  
pp. 2056-2062 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cezar Wankura Barbieri ◽  
Fernando Luiz Ferreira de Quadros ◽  
Felipe Jochims ◽  
Bruno Castro Kuinchtner ◽  
Thiago Henrique Nicola de Carvalho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Block Design ◽  
Beef Heifers ◽  
Rotational Grazing ◽  
Grazing Behavior ◽  
Bite Rate ◽  
Herbage Intake ◽  
Randomized Block Design ◽  
Thermal Sum ◽  
Natural Grassland ◽  
Rest Intervals

It was evaluated the effect of two rest intervals between grazing occupations in rotational grazing; 375 and 750 DD (degree-days); based on the cumulative thermal sum necessary for leaf expansion of native grasses of two functional groups over the grazing behavior variables from beef heifers with 12 months old. The experiment was conducted as a completely randomized block design, with two treatments, three replications and measures repeated over time. Grazing behavior was assessed in three occasions (Nov 2011, Jan and Mar 2012), with 24h each. The herbage intake was estimated using an external marker (Cr2O3). The leaf mass was similar among the rest intervals, with a mean of 1261kg DM ha-1. The average grazing time was 627.4min day-1 and bite rate was 37.1 bites min-1. The average number of daily meals was 5.9 with an average of 118.5 minutes. Number of feeding stations visited per minute was 6.1 and the feeding stations permanence time was of 12 seconds. There was a reduction only on grazing time and bite rate over the periods. The range of thermal sums evaluated to define the rest intervals in rotational grazing proved no effect on heifers' grazing behavior and herbage intake

scholarly journals Does Rotational Grazing Based on Leaf Expansion Duration Modify Grazing Behavior and Feed Intake of Beef Heifers on Natural Grassland?

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 85
Author(s):  
Bruno Castro Kuinchtner ◽  
Fernando Luiz Ferreira de Quadros ◽  
Fernanda Maurer Taschetto ◽  
Gabriela Machado Dutra ◽  
Liane Seibert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Feed Intake ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Leaf Expansion ◽  
Ingestive Behavior ◽  
Beef Heifers ◽  
Rotational Grazing ◽  
Grazing Behavior ◽  
Low Efficiency ◽  
Natural Grassland

Grasslands develop a multifunctional role to humanity, with unique fauna and flora, besides being the primary feed source for herbivores. However, grasslands are usually considered a low-efficiency production system, often converted into other land uses such as crops and forestation (e.g., south Brazil). This study aimed to evaluate the effect of two rest intervals between grazing occupations in rotational grazing on the grazing behavior and feed intake of beef heifers. Two grazing intervals, 375 and 750 DD (degree-days) were used; based on the cumulative thermal sum necessary for the leaf expansion of native grasses of two functional groups. The experiment was conducted as a completely randomized block design, with two treatments, three replications, and repeated measures over time. The grazing behavior was evaluated continuously for 18 hours (7 a.m. to 11h59 p.m.). Herbage intake was estimated using an external marker (Cr2O3) in four periods (one for each season). The green leaf mass was similar between treatments, with a mean of 40% of the pregrazing mass (kg DM ha-1). On average grazing, time was 50% of the period, and the bite rate was 38.7 bites min-1. The number of daily meals was 6.5, with an average of 84 minutes for each meal. The number of feeding times (feeding stations by minute) visited was 6.4. On average, there was a 2.23% difference in dry matter intake (% BW) among seasons. Neither ingestive behavior or forage consumption of heifers was affected by the treatments, both maintain similar chemical composition on natural grassland.

scholarly journals Herbage intake by steers grazing in a natural grassland with predominance of Andropogon lateralis Nees managed under different canopy heights

2021 ◽  
Vol 51 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ricardo Biasiolo ◽  
Pablo Giliard Zanella ◽  
Cássio Felipe Lopes ◽  
Artur Martins Barbosa ◽  
Tiago Celso Baldissera ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Block Design ◽  
Canopy Structure ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽  
Adaptation Period ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Lower Stratum ◽  
Herbage Intake ◽  
Randomized Block Design ◽  
Natural Grassland

ABSTRACT: The animal performance on pasture is directly correlated to canopy structure since this influences the herbage consumption. This study was evaluated the effects of four pre-grazing canopy heights (12, 20, 28 and 36 cm) of Andropogon lateralis Ness on herbage intake and feeding behavior of steers in a natural grassland under intermittent stocking management, using the same proportion of defoliation (40% reduction in pre-grazing height, i.e., post-grazing heights of 7.2, 12.0, 16.8 and 21.6 cm). The experiment was conducted on a total area of 14,000 m2, divided into sixteen paddocks of 875 m2. Thirty-two steers were used, divided into uniform pairs according to the live weight (LW) at the start of the experiment (244 ± 23.0 kg). Each paddock was subdivided into three plots of identical area; the first two plots were used for the adaptation period and the third for the assessment period. A randomized block design was used with four replicates and two assessment periods. Herbage mass and neutral detergent fiber content increased linearly (P < 0,001) with the increase of pre-grazing canopy heights. In contrast, was not affected by treatments, with mean values of 75 g/kg of dry matter (DM) in the upper stratum and 83 g/kg of DM in lower stratum. The herbage intake was similar between treatments (P = 0.255), averaging 1.78% LW. Grazing time increased linearly in the upper stratum and decreased linearly in the lower stratum with increasing pre-grazing canopy heights. Total time spent grazing, ruminating, and idling did not differ between treatments, with means of 52.6%, 23.0%, and 24.2%, respectively. Pre-grazing canopy heights treatments, based on the predominant species A. lateralis, did not affect the daily herbage intake of steers.

scholarly journals Heifers rearing on natural grassland under rotational grazing during warm season

2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Luciana Marin ◽  
Fernando Luiz Ferreira de Quadros ◽  
Leandro Bittencourt de Oliveira ◽  
Émerson Mendes Soares ◽  
Pedro Trindade Casanova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Structural Characteristics ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Beef Heifers ◽  
Rotational Grazing ◽  
Nutritional Conditions ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Natural Grassland ◽  
Rest Intervals

ABSTRACT: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of two rest intervals between grazing on the structural characteristics of pasture and performance of beef heifers in Campos grassland under rotational grazing. The treatments were two intervals between 375 and 750 DD (degree-days) grazing, based on the cumulative thermal sum for leaf expansion of native grasses belonging to capture and conservation groups of resources dominant in a natural grassland. The experiment was conducted during 151 days from October 2015 to March 2016, and twenty-four Braford heifers tests mean age = 12 months; mean body weight = 220kg (± 27.8) were used. The pre-grazing total forage mass (FMt) was on average 3791 kgMSha-1 and did not differ between treatments and season, the same occurred with the non-tussock FM. The average stocking rate was 469 kg ha-1 in both treatments. The average daily gain varied only between seasons, 0.102 kg animal-1 day-1 during spring and 0.372 kg animal-1 day-1 during summer. During the 151 evaluation days, the gain per area was a 103 kgha-1. The use of rest intervals between grazing based on the leaf elongation of dominant grasses, when applied to the areas of Campos grasslands, provided nutritional conditions to reach the target body weight for breeding 24 months old beef heifers.

scholarly journals PSIV-3 Effect of winter-feeding system and roughage level in feedlot ration on subsequent spring grazing behavior and dry matter intake of beef growing heifers

2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 228-229
Author(s):  
María Victoria Burjel ◽  
Alvaro Simeone ◽  
Oscar Bentancur ◽  
Natalia Zabalveytia ◽  
Virginia Beretta
Keyword(s):  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Ingestive Behavior ◽  
Dry Matter Intake ◽  
Feeding System ◽  
Grazing Behavior ◽  
Randomized Block Design ◽  
Winter Feeding

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the effect of winter-feeding system (grazing, GFS vs. feedlot, FFS) and ration roughage level (RL), on subsequent spring grazing behavior and forage dry matter intake (DMI). Thirty-two Hereford female calves (149 ± 13 kg) were assigned to four winter dietary treatments (110 days) in a randomized block design (n = 2/treatment): three feedlot rations differing RL (Setaria italica) (0%, 35% or 70% DM) or oats grazing (5 kg DM/100 kg LW). In spring (84 days) all treatments grazed a mixed grass-legume pastures (4317 ± 1009 kg DM/ha; 6 kg DM/100 kg LW). During weeks 1, 3 and 5 after changing diets, diurnal behavior activity (effective/search grazing, rumination, idling or water intake) was visually recorded and DMI estimated from the in vivo DM digestibility (DMD) and fecal production. Data were analyzed according to a block design with repeated measures, with general model including block, treatment (T), week (W) and T×W effects. Means were compared through orthogonal contrasts (Table 1). Spring DMI varied with T (P = 0.0084) regardless of W effect (P = 0.1619), with higher values for GFS compared to FFS (1.55 vs. 1.16 kg/100 kg LW, P = 0.0034) and for 70RL compared to 35RL (P = 0.0286). DMD did not differ between treatments (P = 0.2488) but was lower on W1 than W5 (55 vs. 64 %, P = 0.0150). T×W was significant (P &lt; 0.0001) for effective grazing, rumination and idling. On W1, heifers from GFS grazed less (0.40 vs. 0.49, P = 0.0268) but tended to ruminate more (0.26 vs. 0.18, P = 0.0591) than FFS. As pasture DMD improved (W5) GFS grazed more (0.64 vs. 0.51, P = 0.0020) but ruminated less (0.14 vs. 0.21, P = 0.0450) than FFS. Transition from FFS to spring grazing might reduce pasture DMI modifying animal ingestive behavior compare to animals from GFS. Impact could be higher when ration RL is below 70%.

scholarly journals Energy sources and supplementation levels for beef heifers raised during the dry season

2010 ◽  
Vol 39 (11) ◽  
pp. 2494-2501 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victor Rezende Moreira Couto ◽  
Mário Fonseca Paulino ◽  
Edenio Detmann ◽  
Sebastião de Campos Valadares Filho ◽  
Maykel Franklin Lima Sales ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Block Design ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Daily Weight Gain ◽  
Control Treatment ◽  
Energy Sources ◽  
Productive Performance ◽  
Beef Heifers ◽  
Brachiaria Decumbens ◽  
Randomized Block Design ◽  
Mineral Mixture

This experiment aimed at evaluating the productive performance, intake and the apparent digestibility in the raising of beef heifers on Brachiaria decumbens Stapf. pastures under supplementation with starch or fibrous energy sources during the dry season. It was used 40 newly weaned heifers (20 Nellore and 20 crossbreed), at 8.5 months of age and 197.9 ± 3.74 kg initial weight. Two supplements were formulated: the first was corn meal- and soybean meal-based diet (high in starch) and the second was based on wheat meal (high in fiber), which were given at the quantities of 0.5 or 1.0 kg/animal/day, compared to the offer of only mineral mixture (control). The animals were distributed according to a complete randomized block design in a 2 × 2 + 1 factorial arrangement with two sources of energy and two levels of supplementation plus the control treatment; the genetic group was used as a measure of local control. The average daily weight gain was higher for the animals under supplementation than those fed only mineral mixture (0.198 vs. 0.077 kg/animal/day). Moreover, performance of the animals under supplementation with starch energy source was higher than those fed wheat meal-based supplement (0.232 vs. 0.163 kg/animal/day). The intake of pasture dry matter was lower for the group given the highest supplementation level. The supplementation of beef heifers under pasture makes it possible to improve the productive performance. Compared to wheat meal, the use of the corn/soybean mixture meal as the basis of multiple mixture improves the productive performance of the heifers.

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 Grazing intensity drives plant diversity but does not affect forage production in a natural grassland dominated by the tussock-forming grass Andropogon lateralis Nees

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pablo Giliard Zanella ◽  
Luis Henrique Paim Della Giustina Junior ◽  
Cassiano Eduardo Pinto ◽  
Tiago Celso Baldissera ◽  
Simone Silmara Werner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
Block Design ◽  
High Capacity ◽  
Grazing Intensity ◽  
Moderate Intensity ◽  
Forage Production ◽  
Humid Climate ◽  
Randomized Block Design ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Natural Grassland

AbstractAndropogon lateralis is a tall and highly plastic tussock-forming grass native from southern South America. It is a frequent component of Campos and Subtropical highland grasslands that often becomes dominant under lax grazing regimes. The aim of this work was to analyze the response of species diversity and forage production of a natural grassland dominated by A. lateralis to a wide range of grazing intensity. We hypothesized that species diversity and forage production would both peak at the intermediate canopy heights determined by grazing regimes of moderate intensity. A grazing experiment was conducted in a highland grassland with mesothermal humid climate at 922 masl (Atlantic Forest biome, Santa Catarina state, Brazil) that comprised 87 species from 20 families but had 50% of its standing biomass accounted by A. lateralis. Four pre-/post-grazing canopy heights—12/7, 20/12, 28/17, and 36/22 cm (measured on A. lateralis)—were arranged in a complete randomized block design with four replications, and intermittently stocked with beef heifers from October 2015 to October 2017. Andropogon lateralis cover decreased (from 75 to 50%), and species richness increased (15–25 species m−2) as canopy height decreased. Grazing intensity did not affect annual forage production (4.2 Mg DM ha−1). This natural grassland dominated by A. lateralis had a high capacity to adjust to grazing regimes of contrasting intensity, maintaining forage production stable over a wide range of canopy heights. However, to prevent losses in floristic diversity, such grassland should not be grazed at canopy heights higher than 28 cm.

scholarly journals 111 Grazing behavior of horses managed on legume-grass mixed pastures

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_4) ◽  
pp. 89-89
Author(s):  
Ana Caroline Cerqueira de Melo Vasco ◽  
Ana Margarita Arias-Esquivel ◽  
Emma Seals ◽  
Fabiane Quevedo da Rosa ◽  
Marcelo Wallau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Model ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Time Of Day ◽  
N Fertilizer ◽  
Repeated Measure ◽  
Paspalum Notatum ◽  
Grazing Behavior ◽  
Arachis Glabrata ◽  
Randomized Block Design ◽  
Mixed Model Anova

Abstract Intercropping legume into grass pastures improves pasture quality and decreases the need for nitrogen (N) fertilizer, while providing a more heterogenic grazing environment. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of rhizoma peanut (RP, Arachis glabrata) intercropped into bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum) pasture on horse grazing performance. Unfertilized bahiagrass (UNF) with no N fertilizer, bahiagrass with 120 kg N ha-1 (FER), and bahiagrass with RP and 30 kg N ha-1 (RP) pastures were evaluated using twelve mature Quarter Horses continuously stocked for 84 days in a randomized block design with two blocks. Grazing, activity and leisure behaviors were recorded every 10 minutes for 24 hours on day 35 and 70 using scan sampling. Chew (CR, chew/min) and bite (BR, bite/min) rates were counted for five consecutive 1-min intervals on days 36 and 71. Data were analyzed using a repeated measure mixed model ANOVA. Pasture did not affect (P &gt; 0.05) total time spent on grazing (13.57 ± 1.81 h, mean ± SD), leisure (9.64 ± 1.64 h), and activity (0.79 ± 0.60 h). Pasture x time of day interaction (P &lt; 0.05) was significant for grazing, leisure and activity. Horses grazing FER spent more time grazing between 1100 and 1700 h, whereas horses grazing RP spent more time grazing between 2300 and 500 h when compared to horses grazing FER. Horses grazing FER spent more time in leisure between 2300 and 700 h. No day or pasture effects were observed for BR (30.8 ± 6.3 bites/min, mean ± SD), but a pasture x day interaction was observed for CR. On day 36, CR of horses grazing FER was similar to RP (50.8 and 53.8 chews/min), but lower than RP on day 71 (41.4 and 61.3 chews/min). Intercropping RP into bahiagrass pastures does not affect total grazing, leisure and activity time of horses.

Effect of daily movement of dairy cattle to fresh grass in morning or afternoon on intake, grazing behaviour, rumen fermentation and milk production

2009 ◽  
Vol 147 (6) ◽  
pp. 721-730 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. A. ABRAHAMSE ◽  
S. TAMMINGA ◽  
J. DIJKSTRA
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Milk Fat ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Sugar Content ◽  
Fat Content ◽  
Daily Movement ◽  
Bite Rate ◽  
Herbage Intake ◽  
Grazing Behaviour

SUMMARYTwenty Holstein cows were split into two equal groups to test the effect of daily move to a previously ungrazed strip after morning milking (MA) or afternoon milking (AA) on herbage intake, grazing behaviour, rumen characteristics and milk production using a randomized block design with three periods of 14 days each. Milking took place at 06.00 and 16.00 h. The chemical composition of grass was similar between treatments, but an interaction between treatment and time of sampling was found in all variables except acid detergent lignin (ADL). The most pronounced differences existed in sugar content. Grass sugar content was greatest following afternoon milking. However, the difference in sugar content in grass was much larger in MA (158 v 114 g/kg dry matter (DM) at 16.00 and 06.00 h, respectively) than in AA (147 v 129 g/kg DM at 16.00 and 06.00 h, respectively). Neutral detergent fibre (NDF) was significantly higher at 06.00 h than at 16.00 h (469 v 425 g/kg DM) in AA, but was equal between morning and afternoon in MA (453 g/kg DM). Herbage intake, determined using the n-alkane technique, did not differ between treatments. Grazing behaviour observed using IGER graze recorders were similar between treatments, except for ruminating time, bite rate and the number of ruminations and boli per period of the day. However, interactions between treatment and time in grazing behaviour variables were found. Grazing time was longer and number of bites was greater following allocation to a new plot (after milking in the morning in MA or milking in the afternoon in AA) when compared to allocation to the same plot after the subsequent milking per treatment (after milking in the afternoon or morning in MA and AA, respectively). In comparison to AA, grazing time in MA was more evenly distributed during the day but lower during the night. The combined effects of differences in grazing behaviour and chemical composition of the grass between treatments in different periods of the day probably caused higher intake of sugars in AA, resulting in a significantly higher non-glucogenic to glucogenic volatile fatty acid ratio (NGR) in the rumen in AA than MA. Milk fat content was lower in MA than AA, but milk production and milk protein and lactose content did not differ. In conclusion, time of allocation to a fresh plot altered the distribution of grazing behaviour variables over the day, and affected NGR and milk fat content, but herbage intake and milk production were not changed.

scholarly journals Influence of Nitrogenous Fertilizers on Guinea Grass Yield and Carrying Capacity in Lajas Valley

1969 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 239-247 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Rivera-Brenes ◽  
E. N. Colón-Torres ◽  
F. Gelpí ◽  
J. Torres-Más
Keyword(s):  
Ammonium Sulfate ◽  
Carrying Capacity ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Grazing Management ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Semiarid Region ◽  
Rotational Grazing ◽  
Randomized Block Design ◽  
Dry Spells ◽  
Guinea Grass

The Lajas Valley is a semiarid region located in the southwestern corner of the Island. Annual rainfall fluctuates from 40 to 60 inches with rather prolonged dry spells. Guinea grass is the prevailing and most important pasture forage. Very little or no fertilizer at all is used and, generally speaking, the grazing management is poor. In 1952, an experiment was started with Guinea grass submitted to different fertilizer treatments, under rotational grazing. A randomized-block design already described in another paper (3) was used and each treatment of 0, 40, and 80 pounds of nitrogen per acre was applied as ammonium sulfate every 4 months was replicated three times. Results obtained indicate that fertilization pays even in this relatively dry section of the Island.

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