scholarly journals Ingestive behaviour, herbage intake and grazing efficiency of beef cattle steers on Tanzania guineagrass subjected to rotational stocking managements

2009 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 1001-1008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gelson dos Santos Difante ◽  
Valéria Pacheco Batista Euclides ◽  
Domicio do Nascimento Júnior ◽  
Sila Carneiro da Silva ◽  
Roberto Augusto de Almeida Torres Júnior ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Grazing Intensity ◽  
Light Interception ◽  
Panicum Maximum ◽  
Bite Rate ◽  
Intensity Range ◽  
Herbage Intake ◽  
Grazing Intensities ◽  
Ingestive Behaviour ◽  
Canopy Light Interception

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the ingestive behaviour, herbage intake and grazing efficiency of beef cattle steers grazing on Panicum maximum Jacq. cv. Tanzania subjected to different rotational stocking intensities. Treatments corresponded to two post-grazing conditions (residues of 25 and 50 cm) associated with a pre-grazing condition of 95% sward canopy light interception during regrowth (LI). The grazing time increased linearly with the duration of the occupation period (475 to 630 minutes/day). On paddocks grazed down to a residue of 25 cm, the bite rate increased linearly along the occupation period, with an average of 42.5 bites/minute. On paddocks grazed down to a residue of 50 cm, the bite rate was stable and equal to 39 bites/minute. There was no difference in herbage intake between grazing intensities. However, grazing at 25 cm residue resulted in greater herbage removal (68.0 vs. 45.6%) and greater grazing efficiency (90.4 vs. 49.8%) than grazing at 50 cm residue. Post-grazing residues of Tanzania guineagrass under rotational stocking management may be set at either 25 or 50 cm, since the herbage intake was not affected within this grazing intensity range. However, herbage removal and grazing efficiency were reduced with the 50 cm post-grazing height and grazing time increased with long occupation periods.

scholarly journals Sward structure and nutritive value of tanzania guineagrass subjected to rotational stocking managements

2009 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gelson dos Santos Difante ◽  
Domicio do Nascimento Júnior ◽  
Valéria Pacheco Batista Euclides ◽  
Sila Carneiro da Silva ◽  
Rodrigo Amorim Barbosa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crude Protein ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Accumulation Rate ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Grazing Intensity ◽  
Light Interception ◽  
Panicum Maximum ◽  
Canopy Light Interception ◽  
Sward Structure

The objective of this work was to evaluate the sward structure and nutritive value of Panicum maximum Jacq. cv. Tanzânia subjected to rotational stocking managements characterised by a common pre-grazing condition of 95% canopy light interception (LI) and two post-grazing residues, 25 and 50 cm. Treatments (95/25, 95/50 - LI/residue) were assigned to experimental units (groups of six 2500 m² paddocks per treatment) according to a complete randomised block design, with two replications. The variables measured corresponded to: canopy light interception, pre and post-grazing sward height, herbage mass and pre and post-grazing morphological composition, herbage bulk density, herbage accumulation and nutritive value (including to IVOMD) of the morphological components. Pre-grazing herbage mass did not differ between residues, although the herbage accumulation rate was higher for the 50 than the 25 cm (164.9 and 90.6 kg/ha.day DM, respectively). Post-grazing herbage mass values were higher for the 50 cm residue and were characterised by a higher proportion of leaf blade in relation to the 25 cm treatment, which presented a higher proportion of dead material. On average, the contents of crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and lignin in acid detergent (LAD) as well as the values of the "in vitro" organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) were similar for both treatments. Crude protein and IVOMD decreased and NDF and LAD increased from top to the bottom of the sward, indicating grazing intensity as an important variable for promoting adjustments in the grazing efficiency and nutritive value of the consumed herbage by the grazing animals.

scholarly journals Sheep Excreta as Source of Nitrous Oxide in Ryegrass Pasture in Southern Brazil

2015 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 1498-1506 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michely Tomazi ◽  
Emanuelle Cavazini Magiero ◽  
Joice Mari Assmann ◽  
Tatiane Bagatini ◽  
Jeferson Dieckow ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitrous Oxide ◽  
Pore Space ◽  
Grazing Intensity ◽  
Nitrate Content ◽  
N2o Emissions ◽  
Southern Brazil ◽  
Herbage Intake ◽  
N Fluxes ◽  
Grazing Intensities ◽  
The Mean

ABSTRACT Livestock urine and dung are important components of the N cycle in pastures, but little information on its effect on soil nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions is available. We conducted a short-term (39-day) trial to quantify the direct N2O-N emissions from sheep excreta on an experimental area of ryegrass pasture growing on a Typic Paleudult in southern Brazil. Four rates of urine-N (161, 242, 323, and 403 kg ha-1 N) and one of dung-N (13 kg ha-1 N) were applied, as well as a control plot receiving no excreta. The N2O-N emission factor (EF = % of added N released as N2O-N) for urine and dung was calculated, taking into account the N2O fluxes in the field, over a period of 39 days. The EF value of the urine and dung was used to estimate the emissions of N2O-N over a 90-day period of pasture in the winter under two grazing intensities (2.5 or 5.0 times the herbage intake potential of grazing lambs). The soil N2O-N fluxes ranged from 4 to 353 µg m-2h-1. The highest N2O-N fluxes occurred 16 days after application of urine and dung, when the highest soil nitrate content was also recorded and the water-filled pore space exceeded 60 %. The mean EF for urine was 0.25 % of applied N, much higher than that for dung (0.06 %). We found that N2O-N emissions for the 90-day winter pasture period were 0.54 kg ha-1 for low grazing intensity and 0.62 kg ha-1 for moderate grazing intensity. Comparison of the two forms of excreta show that urine was the main contributor to N2O-N emissions (mean of 36 %), whereas dung was responsible for less than 0.1 % of total soil N2O-N emissions.

scholarly journals Carbon and nitrogen cycling in an integrated soybean-beef cattle production system under different grazing intensities

2015 ◽  
Vol 50 (10) ◽  
pp. 967-978 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joice Mari Assmann ◽  
Ibanor Anghinoni ◽  
Amanda Posselt Martins ◽  
Sérgio Ely Valadão Gigante de Andrade Costa ◽  
Taise Robinson Kunrath ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Grazing Intensity ◽  
Italian Ryegrass ◽  
Release Rates ◽  
Litter Bags ◽  
Nylon Mesh ◽  
N Release ◽  
Grazing Intensities ◽  
C And N

Abstract:The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of grazing intensity on the decomposition of cover crop pasture, dung, and soybean residues, as well as the C and N release rates from these residues in a long-term integrated soybean-beef cattle system under no-tillage. The experiment was initiated in 2001, with soybean cultivated in summer and black oat + Italian ryegrass in winter. The treatments consisted of four sward heights (10, 20, 30, and 40 cm), plus an ungrazed area, as the control. In 2009-2011, residues from pasture, dung, and soybean stems and leaves were placed in nylon-mesh litter bags and allowed to decompose for up to 258 days. With increasing grazing intensity, residual dry matter of the pasture decreased and that of dung increased. Pasture and dung lignin concentrations and C release rates were lower with moderate grazing intensity. C and N release rates from soybean residues are not affected by grazing intensity. The moderate grazing intensity produces higher quality residues, both for pasture and dung. Total C and N release is influenced by the greater residual dry matter produced when pastures were either lightly grazed or ungrazed.

Steer performance on Panicum maximum (cv. Mombaça) pastures under two grazing intensities

2016 ◽  
Vol 56 (11) ◽  
pp. 1849 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valéria Pacheco Batista Euclides ◽  
Flávia da Conceição Lopes ◽  
Domicio do Nascimento Junior ◽  
Sila Carneiro da Silva ◽  
Gelson dos Santos Difante ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Accumulation Rate ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Lower Percentage ◽  
Panicum Maximum ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Herbage Intake ◽  
Grazing Intensities ◽  
Dead Material ◽  
Daily Gain

The objective of this study was to evaluate animal performance in Mombaça guineagrass (Panicum maximum Jacq.) pastures under intermittent grazing associated with two post-grazing heights (30 and 50 cm) and a pre-grazing height of 90 cm. A completely randomised block experimental design was employed, with two treatments and three replicates. The pastures were evaluated pre- and post-grazing grazing, to determine the herbage mass, percentage of leaf, stem and dead material and nutritive value. The stocking rate (expressed in animal unit, AU = 450 kg liveweight) was adjusted twice a week, and the animals were weighed every 28 days. The average grazing frequencies were 33 and 40 days, respectively, for 50 cm and 30 cm of residue pastures to reach the pre-grazing target (90 cm). The forage accumulation rate and pre-grazing herbage mass were similar for pastures with post-grazing heights of 30 and 50 cm. However, 50 cm of residue in the pasture resulted in greater pre-grazing leaf percentage and nutritive value and a lower percentage of dead material than did 30 cm of residue, and, consequently, a greater herbage intake (2.6 and 2.0 kg of dry matter/100 kg liveweight, respectively). The stocking rate was greater in the pastures with 30 cm of residue (6.7 AU/ ha) than in those with 50 cm (5.1 AU/ha). However, the average daily gain was greater for the 50-cm (655 g/steer.day) than for the 30-cm (390 g/steer.day) post-grazing height, resulting in a greater animal production of 1070 versus 635 kg/ha, respectively. Thus, under intermittent grazing, Mombaça guineagrass should be managed using a 50-cm post-grazing height.

scholarly journals Tropical Forage Grasses Intercropped Under Lenient Grazing Intensities Promote Greater Soil Cover

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 213
Author(s):  
Patrick Bezerra Fernandes ◽  
Rodrigo Amorim Barbosa ◽  
Maria Da Graça Morais ◽  
Cauby de Medeiros-Neto ◽  
Henrique Jorge Fernandes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Cover ◽  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Grazing Intensity ◽  
Panicum Maximum ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Cultivation Systems ◽  
Research Company ◽  
Tropical Forage ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Grazing Intensities

The diversity of grasses in the intercropping promotes greater soil cover regardless of the grazing intensity used. The aim was evaluated how cultivation systems (monoculture and intercropped) influence the proportion of soil discovered under different grazing intensities. The experiment was conducted at the premises of the Brazilian Agricultural Research Company. The pastures were combined two cultivation systems: monoculture of Panicum maximum cv. BRS Zuri; intercropping of Panicum maximum cv. BRS Zuri, Brachiaria brizantha cv. Xaraes and Brachiaria decumbens cv. Basilisk. Four evaluation cycles were performed, which totaled in 2136 observations. In the contrast between evaluation cycles, it is possible to infer that cycles II, III and IV have a negative effect in relation to cycle I, because after the first evaluation there is an increase in the proportion of soil discovered in the pastures studied. In relation to cultivation systems, the intercropped managed at high grazing intensities impacts negative effects, and it is possible to observe the highest values of uncovered soil, as well as the lowest tussock distribution values. The intercropping of tropical climate pastures has greater soil cover when managed in lenient grazing intensity.

Beef production from grass and silage with autumn-born calves. 1. The influence of grazing intensity on efficiency of herbage utilization and live-weight gain of cattle

1970 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 433-442 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Wilkinson ◽  
J. H. D. Prescott
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Grazing Intensity ◽  
Meadow Fescue ◽  
High Group ◽  
Live Weight Gain ◽  
Herbage Intake ◽  
Herbage Quality ◽  
Grazing Intensities ◽  
Strip Grazing

SUMMARY1. Two experiments are described in which groups of 12 autumn-born calves were strip-grazed at different intensities. In Experiment 1 (1966), ‘standard’ and ‘high’ grazing intensities were compared. In Experiment 2 (1967), ‘standard’ and ‘low’ intensities were compared. In both experiments the same meadow fescue—ryegrass ley provided 0·24 ha per head for grazing and conservation; herbage surplus to grazing requirements was conserved as silage.2. The grazing season was divided into three parts according to the type of grazing, and estimates were made of daily herbage allowances, herbage quality, efficiency of herbage utilization and the live-weight gain of the cattle.3. Grazing intensity was regulated by controlling daily herbage allowances by strip-grazing. Within grazing seasons, differences in grazing intensity had little effect on the digestibility of the herbage dry matter on offer. Dead herbage accumulation was low (10%) in the early and late parts of the season, but rose to 25% in mid-season.4. The efficiency of herbage utilization was estimated in three ways: from sample cuts of herbage on offer and refused; from measurements of herbage intake; and from feeding standards for maintenance and gain. Efficiency was highest for the ‘high’ group of Experiment 1 and lowest for the ‘low’ group of Experiment 2. The validity of efficiency estimates is discussed in relation to measurements of pasture yield, herbage intake and the assessment of the nutrient requirements of growing cattle.5. Live-weight gain over the whole season was 0·59 and 0·89 kg/head per day for the ‘high’ and ‘standard’ groups of Experiment 1, respectively. In Experiment 2, the ‘low’ and ‘standard’ groups gained weight at 0·95 and 0·84 kg/head per day, respectively.

scholarly journals 115 Nitrogen fertilizer effects on above ground sward characteristics and beef heifer performance from native warm-season grass blends

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 26-27
Author(s):  
Caroline Chappell ◽  
Landon Marks ◽  
Katie Mason ◽  
Mary K Mullenix ◽  
Sandra L Dillard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
Application Rate ◽  
Light Interception ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
Forage Production ◽  
Beef Heifers ◽  
Fertilizer Application Rate ◽  
Canopy Light Interception

Abstract A 2-yr study was conducted at Black Belt Research and Extension Center in Marion Junction, AL, to evaluate the effect of nitrogen (N) fertilizer application rate on forage production characteristics, nutritive value, and animal performance of beef heifers grazing a mixture of native warm-season grasses (NWSG) including big bluestem, little bluestem, and indiangrass. Six, two-hectare plots were randomly assigned to one of two treatments (0 or 67 kg N ha-1 applied in early April; n = 3 replications per treatment). Paddocks were continuously stocked with four weaned Angus × Simmental beef heifers (initial BW 288 ± 7 kg) from late May/early June through mid-to-late August during 2018 (73 grazing d) and 2019 (70 grazing d), respectively. Put-and-take cattle were used to manage forage to a target of 38 cm. Forage mass and canopy heights were collected every two weeks during the trial. Visual ground cover ratings, canopy light interception, and botanical composition were measured at the beginning and end of the trial in each year. Hand-plucked samples were collected every two weeks during the grazing trial to determine forage nutritional value. Data were analyzed using the PROC MIXED procedure in SAS 9.4, and differences were declared significant when P ≤ 0.05. Nitrogen fertilized NWSG had greater crude protein (P < 0.0001), sward heights (P = 0.0003), and canopy light interception at the beginning of the season (P = 0.0049) compared to non-fertilized paddocks. However, there were no differences (P ≥ 0.05) among N-fertility treatments for mean forage mass, heifer ADG, or BCS across the 2-yr study. Botanical composition data indicated that indiangrass decreased from 64% to 61% (P = 0.0022) and weed pressure increased from 11% to 15% (P = 0.0064) across the summer grazing season. Canopy light interception decreased by 51% from early June to August in fertilized NWSG and 26% in unfertilized paddocks, respectively. These data illustrate that NWSG systems may provide a viable grazing system in the summer months under reduced N inputs.

Runoff and sediment yield from snowmelt and rainfall as influenced by forage type and grazing intensity

1998 ◽  
Vol 78 (4) ◽  
pp. 699-706 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. I. Gill ◽  
M. A. Naeth ◽  
D. S. Chanasyk ◽  
V. S. Baron
Keyword(s):  
Sediment Yield ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Grazing Intensity ◽  
Annual Runoff ◽  
Rainfall Simulation ◽  
Sediment Yields ◽  
Natural Rainfall ◽  
Grazing Intensities ◽  
Grazing Systems ◽  
Runoff And Sediment Yield

Currently, there is interest in Western Canada in extending the grazing season using perennial and annual forages. Of greatest concern is the environmental sustainability of these grazing systems, with emphasis on their ability to withstand erosion. A study to examine the runoff and sediment yields of annual and perennial forages in central Alberta was initiated in 1994. Runoff and sediment yield were quantified under snowmelt and rainfall events for two seasons. Rainfall simulation was used to further examine runoff under growing season conditions. Four forage treatments (two annuals: triticale and a barley/triticale mixture and two perennials: smooth bromegrass and meadow bromegrass) and three grazing intensities (light, medium and heavy) were studied, each replicated four times. Total annual runoff was dominated by snowmelt. Generally runoff volumes, sediment yields, sediment ratios and runoff coefficients were all low. Bare ground increased with increasing grazing intensity and was significantly greater in annuals than perennials for all grazing intensities. Litter biomass decreased with increasing grazing intensity and was generally similar in all species for both years at heavy and medium grazing intensities. Results from the rainfall simulation corroborated those under natural rainfall conditions and generally indicated the sustainability of these grazing systems at this site. Key words: Forages, soil erosion, sustainability, rainfall simulation

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 Transcriptome-wide gene expression plasticity in Stipa grandis in response to grazing intensity differences

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhenhua Dang ◽  
Yuanyuan Jia ◽  
Yunyun Tian ◽  
Jiabin Li ◽  
Yanan Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Metabolic Pathways ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Expression Profiles ◽  
Gene Expression Profiles ◽  
Grazing Intensity ◽  
Glycolate Oxidase ◽  
Bisphosphate Carboxylase ◽  
Grazing Intensities

Organisms have evolved effective and distinct adaptive strategies to survive. Stipa grandis is one of the widespread dominant species on the typical steppe of the Inner Mongolian Plateau, and is regarded as a suitable species for studying the effects of grazing in this region. Although phenotypic (morphological and physiological) variations in S. grandis in response to long-term grazing have been identified, the molecular mechanisms underlying adaptations and plastic responses remain largely unknown. Accordingly, we performed a transcriptomic analysis to investigate changes in gene expression of S. grandis under four different grazing intensities. A total of 2,357 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified among the tested grazing intensities, suggesting long-term grazing resulted in gene expression plasticity that affected diverse biological processes and metabolic pathways in S. grandis. DEGs were identified that indicated modulation of Calvin–Benson cycle and photorespiration metabolic pathways. The key gene´expression profiles encoding various proteins (e.g., Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase, fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase, glycolate oxidase etc.) involved in these pathways suggest that they may synergistically respond to grazing to increase the resilience and stress tolerance of S. grandis. Our findings provide scientific clues for improving grassland use and protection, and identify important questions to address in future transcriptome studies.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document