scholarly journals Forage production and productive performance of Nellore heifers in agrosilvopastoral systems

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. e4729108643
Author(s):  
Jeskarlândia Silva Barros ◽  
Kennyson Alves de Souza ◽  
Fabiana Villa Alves ◽  
Roberto Giolo de Almeida ◽  
Ossival Lobato Ribeiro ◽  
...  

Agrosilvopastoral system is a type of production that involves the soil-forage-animal interface, both of which are benefited by the system. Hence, the present study evaluated the effects of agrosilvopastoral system on the quantitative and qualitative characteristics from pasture, and the animal performance during the feeding period of Nellore heifers. The treatments included: Soil-forage-animal – 357 eucalyptus trees per hectare (LFA14x2m); Soil-forage-animal – 227 eucalyptus trees per hectare (LFA22x2m); and Soil-animal – Five native trees remaining per hectare (CON). The forage used was Brachiaria brizantha cv. BRS Piatã and having as trees planted the Eucalyptus urograndis clones H 13. Treatment effects (P <0.05) for forage accumulation and pasture height, which were lowest in LFA14x2m compared to the others. Total forage dry mass in CON treatment was significantly greater (P <0.05) compared to the other treatments, showing maximum production in March. The LFA14x2m treatment was favorable for greater forage quality, showing an effect on chemical composition (P <0.05), compared to other treatments. Whereas, in November the LFA22x2m treatment was better for neutral detergent fiber. January and March, the treatments were similar (P >0.05) for average daily gain, while in November period, LFA14x2m treatment showed the lowest value (P <0.05). The lowest weight gain by area (November) occurred in the LFA14x2m treatment (P <0.05), although in March the LFA14x2m treatment stocking rate was similar to the others. Forage production and animal performance are altered by the trees densification in agrosilvopastoral systems. The chemical composition of pasture is better in systems with a higher trees density.

2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 3861 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulysses Cecato ◽  
Josmar Almeida Junior ◽  
Fabíola Cristine de Almeida Rego ◽  
Sandra Galbeiro ◽  
Wagner Paris ◽  
...  

This study aimed to assess forage production, animal performance, and the chemical composition of Tanzania grass pasture fertilized with 50, 100, 200, and 400 kg ha-1 of nitrogen. The variables analyzed were: leaf mass, daily accumulation rate, leaf/stem ratio, average daily gain, stocking rate, live weight gain per unit of area crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, and in vitro dry matter digestibility of leaves. The pasture management maintained the pasture height at 50 cm by using a continuous grazing method with the adjustment of stocking rate. The experimental design was a randomized block with three replicates. The leaf mass increased linearly in response to nitrogen, with an increase of 1003 kg (34%) observed between a nitrogen content of 50 and 400 kg ha-1. Nitrogen did not affect the average daily gain, but increased the stocking rate and live weight gain ha-1. The value of crude protein and neutral detergent fiber were higher with increased nitrogen levels, whereas the leaf digestibility did not affect nitrogen use. The comparison of 50 and 400 kg ha-1 levels indicated that there was an average increase of 19.2% in the leaf crude protein. The increased application of nitrogen fertilizer in Tanzania grass improved the chemical composition and animal performance; with regard to studied variables, the dose of 200 kg ha-1 resulted in the greatest improvement.


2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 18-19
Author(s):  
Izabela Aline Gomes da Silva ◽  
Jose Carlos Batista Dubeux ◽  
Alexandre C Leão de Mello ◽  
Márcio Vieira da Cunha ◽  
Mércia Ferreira dos Santos ◽  
...  

Abstract Silvopasture systems (SPS) area management option to enhance delivery of ecosystem services and diversification of income. This study evaluated productive responses of signalgrass (UrochloadecumbensStapf.) in monoculture or in SPS in the sub-humid tropical region of Brazil during six months of the rainy season. The experimental design was randomized complete block with three replications. Treatments were signalgrass + Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth. (SPS-Mimosa); signalgrass + Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) (SPS-Gliricidia); and signalgrass monoculture. Cattle were managed under continuous stocking with variable stocking rate. Response variables included herbage mass (HM), herbage accumulation (HA), stocking rate (SR), average daily gain (ADG), and gain per area (GPA). Herbage mass (HM) was greater (P &lt; 0.0001) on signal grass monoculture (2045 kg DM/ha) than in SPS (1370 kg DM/ha, average for both SPS). Herbage accumulation rate was similar for signalgrass in monoculture and SPS-Gliricidia (avg. 61 kg DM ha-1 d-1), and both were greater than SPS-Mimosa (37 kg DM ha-1 d-1). Average daily gain was greater(P &lt; 0.0001) for SPS-Gliricidia (1.1 kg head-1 d-1), followed by signalgrass in monoculture (0.9 kg head-1 d-1), and SPS-Mimosa (0.3 kg head-1 d-1). Stocking rate ranged from 0.6 animal units (1AU = 450-kg animal) per ha in April to 2.2 AUha-1 in June. Stocking rate and animal performance per area were similar for signalgrass in monoculture and SPS-Gliricidia, and both greater than SPS-Mimosa. Gliricidia enhanced animal performance and provided ecosystem services. Mimosa, however, reduced animal performance likely due to the competition with signalgrass. Mimosa trees, however, are an important source of income (timber used for fence posts) and that might overcome the losses in animal performance.


2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 94-94
Author(s):  
Russell C Carrell ◽  
Sandra L Dillard ◽  
Mary K Mullenix ◽  
Audrey Gamble ◽  
Russ B Muntifering

Abstract Use of cool-season annual cover crops through grazing has been shown to be a potential tool in extending the grazing season, while still mitigating environmental risks associated with warm-season row crop production. Although data describing the effects of grazing on soil health are not novel, effects of grazing length on animal performance and cover crop production are limited. The objective was to determine cattle performance and forage production when grazing a cool-season annual cover-crop. Twelve, 1.2-ha pastures were established in a four species forage mix and randomly allocated to be grazed through either mid-February (FEB), mid-March (MAR), or mid-April (APR) with a non-grazed control (CON). Three tester steers were randomly placed in each paddock and a 1:1 forage allowance was maintained in each paddock using put-and-take steers. Animals were weighed every 30 d for determination of average daily gain (ADG). Forage was harvested bi-weekly and analyzed for forage production, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF). Fiber fractions were measured using an ANKOM fiber analyzer (ANKOM Tech, Macedon, NY). All data were analyzed using MIXED procedure of SAS version 9.4 (SAS Inst., Cary, NC). Differences in forage mass were detected between CON and FEB (3,694.75 vs. 2,539.68 kg/ha; P &lt; 0.003), CON and MAR (3,694.75 vs. 1,823.45 kg/ha; P &lt; 0.001), and CON and APR (3,694.75 vs. 1,976.23 kg/ha; P &lt; 0.001). Differences in total gain/acre were detected between APR and MAR (212.24 vs. 101.74 kg/ha; P &lt; 0.0001), APR and FEB (212.24 vs 52.65 kg/ha; P &lt; 0.0001), and FEB and MAR (101.74 vs. 52.65 kg/ha; P &lt; 0.003). No differences were detected for tester ADG (1.23 kg/day, P = 0.56), NDF (44.9%, P = 0.99), or ADF (27.2%, P = 0.92) among treatments. These results indicate that cattle removal date effected forage yield and total gain/hectare.


2022 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 20
Author(s):  
Belal S. Obeidat

A study was conducted to examine how lupin grains (LUPs) feeding affected nutritional intake, digestibility, growth, and carcass characteristics in kids. A total of 24 growing black kids (initial body weight (BW) = 16.4 ± 0.49 kg) were allocated to one of three diets at random. Lupin was included in the diet at a rate of 0 (control; CON), 100 (LUP100), or 200 g/kg (LUP200) of total dry matter (DM). The trial lasted for 91 days divided into 7 and 84 days to be used for adaptation and data collection, respectively. Feed intake was evaluated daily throughout the study. At the commencement and the end of the study, each kid’s body weight was measured to determine its average daily gain (ADG). On day 70, 5 kids were chosen at random from each group to investigate nutrient in vivo digestibility and N balance. At the end of the study, all of the kids were slaughtered to examine carcass features. Nutrient intakes (neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, and ether extract) were higher (p ≤ 0.01) in LUP-containing diets than in the CON diet. The average daily gain was greater (p ≤ 0.03) in diets containing lupin grains than in the CON diet. Cost of gain ($US/kg growth) was lower (p = 0.004) in kids fed diets containing lupin than the CON diet. Dry matter and CP digestibility rates were greater (p ≤ 0.03) in lupin diets. Retained N was higher (p = 0.04) in lupin-containing diets than in the CON diet. Cold carcass weight was higher (p < 0.05) for kids consuming the LUP100 diet than the CON diet. In lupin diets, carcass cut weights were higher (p < 0.05). Results of the current study indicate that feeding black kids diets containing lupin grains at 100 or 200 g/kg DM basis is cost effective and would increase profitability.


2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 27-28
Author(s):  
Izabela Aline Gomes da Silva ◽  
Jose Carlos Batista Dubeux ◽  
Alexandre C Leão de Mello ◽  
Márcio Vieira da Cunha ◽  
Mércia Ferreira dos Santos ◽  
...  

Abstract Silvopasture systems (SPS) area management option to enhance delivery of ecosystem services and diversification of income. This study evaluated productive responses of signalgrass (Urochloadecumbens Stapf.) in monoculture or in SPS in the sub-humid tropical region of Brazil during six months of the rainy season. The experimental design was randomized complete block with three replications. Treatments were signalgrass + Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth. (SPS-Mimosa); signalgrass + Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) (SPS-Gliricidia); and signalgrass monoculture. Cattle were managed under continuous stocking with variable stocking rate. Response variables included herbage mass (HM), herbage accumulation (HA), stocking rate (SR), average daily gain (ADG), and gain per area (GPA). Herbage mass (HM) was greater (P &lt; 0.0001) on signal grass monoculture (2045 kg DM/ha) than in SPS (1370 kg DM/ha, average for both SPS). Herbage accumulation rate was similar for signalgrass in monoculture and SPS-Gliricidia (avg. 61 kg DM ha-1 d-1), and both were greater than SPS-Mimosa (37 kg DM ha-1 d-1). Average daily gain was greater(P &lt; 0.0001) for SPS-Gliricidia (1.1 kg head-1 d-1), followed by signalgrass in monoculture (0.9 kg head-1 d-1), and SPS-Mimosa (0.3 kg head-1 d-1). Stocking rate ranged from 0.6 animal units (1AU = 450-kg animal) per ha in April to 2.2 AUha-1 in June. Stocking rate and animal performance per area were similar for signalgrass in monoculture and SPS-Gliricidia, and both greater than SPS-Mimosa. Gliricidia enhanced animal performance and provided ecosystem services. Mimosa, however, reduced animal performance likely due to the competition with signalgrass. Mimosa trees, however, are an important source of income (timber used for fence posts) and that might overcome the losses in animal performance.


2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (6) ◽  
pp. 2555
Author(s):  
Gumercindo Loriano Franco ◽  
Marcelo Vedovatto ◽  
Marcella Cândia D'Oliveira ◽  
Ibrahim Miranda Cortada Neto ◽  
Maria Da Graça Morais ◽  
...  

With the objective to evaluate different frequencies of supplementation on the performance and ingestive behavior of Nellore calves kept on Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu pasture, 56 animals with initial average body weight (BW) of 174.5 kg were submitted to the following treatments: no supplement and 1x, 3x, and 7x supplementation per week. The supplement was provided in the amount of 3.5 g kg-1 of BW day-1. BW and evaluation of behavior were assessed every 28 days. The randomized block's design with two repetitions was used. The analyses of variance were carried out by the GLM procedure in the SAS software, and the means were compared by the Tukey’s test at 5% significance. The supplementation increased the average daily gain (ADG; P ? 0.05); however, it did not differ between frequencies (0.005, 0.190, 0.183, and 0.177 kg head-1 day for the no supplement treatment and 1x, 3x, and 7x per week, respectively). The animals in the no supplement treatment showed longer grazing time (P ? 0.05) compared to those receiving the supplement. However, results did not differ between frequencies (10.44, 8.57, 8.32, and 8.59 hours day-1 for no supplement treatments and 1x, 3x, and 7x per week, respectively). Thus, the frequency of supplementation can be reduced to once a week without reducing animal performance.


2019 ◽  
Vol 97 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 451-451
Author(s):  
Josue Godinez ◽  
Alejandro Plascencia ◽  
Francisco Castrejón-Pineda ◽  
Juan Carlos Ramírez-Orejel ◽  
Luis Corona

Abstract The main objective of sheep production in Mexico is the production of meat. The greater demand of sheep meat in relation to the offer generated an attractive market that favored the intensification of the fattening, to take advantage of the growth of lambs in its different stages, and reduce the days of fattening. Thirty-two lambs (28.50± 2.67 kg initial shrunk weight) were used in a 63-day feeding trial (4 pens per treatment, randomized complete block design) to evaluate neutral detergent fiber level (4, 8, 12, and 16% diet DM) on finishing-phase growth performance, dietary energetics and carcass traits. Dietary treatments consisted of a cracked corn-based diet in which the NDF concentration of diet was manipulated by replacing cracked corn grain by corn stubble. Dietary NDF level showed a quadratic response on average daily gain and gain efficiency, being those maximal at 8% NDF level. Lambs fed 8% NDF level tended (P = 0.07) to shown greater dry matter intake than others treatments. The ratio of observed-to-expected dietary net energy was 3% lower (0.97) for lambs fed 4% NDF, while the ratio of observed-to-expected dietary net energy for lambs that were fed with 8, 16 and 16% NDF were closely to 1.00. Hot carcass weight (HCW) and dressing percentage (DP) were maximal for the lambs fed 8% NDF level (quadratic effect, P ≤ 0.03); beyond this level, HCW and DP percentage decreased as NDF level increased. Using corn stubble as source of NDF in growing-finishing diets for lambs, the optimal NDF level was 8%. Fiber level below 8% decreases net energy utilization, and this may be cause by digestive disorders. Fiber levels upper 8% did not affect energy utilization; however, affect negatively average daily gain, feed efficiency and carcass characteristics by effect of high levels of fiber on energy dilution of diet.


2018 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 42553 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michel Do Vale Maciel ◽  
Francisco Fernando Ramos de Carvalho ◽  
Ângela Maria Vieira Batista ◽  
Evaristo Jorge Oliveira de Souza ◽  
Laura Priscila Araújo Amaro Maciel ◽  
...  

 The aim of this study was to evaluate the replacement of Tifton 85 hay (Cynodon spp.) by maniçoba hay or silage (Manihot glaziovii Muell. Arg) on sheep intake and performance. Twenty-four male Santa Ines animals were used, with initial body weight of 19.77 ± 1.95 kg and average age of 160 days. The animals were distributed in three treatments (Tifton 85 hay-TH, Maniçoba hay-MH and Maniçoba silage-MS), arranged in a randomized blocks design, with 8 replicates per treatment. The feedlot period lasted for 71 days. The means of the variables were tested by Tukey’s test at 5% probability. Sheep fed MH presented higher dry matter intake (p > 0.05) than those fed TH (1.17 kg day-1 vs 1.06 kg day-1). Neutral detergent fiber intake was higher (p > 0.05) for MH-fed sheep (0.394 kg day-1) when compared to MS (0.340 kg day-1). The digestibility of total carbohydrates was higher (p > 0.05) for MH diet (0.71 g kg-1) than TH (0.67 g kg-1). The average daily gain and body weight at slaughter did not differ (p > 0.05) among treatments. Maniçoba hay or silage can replace Tifton 85 hay in sheep diets. 


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Hatungimana ◽  
Tess C Stahl ◽  
Peter S Erickson

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the growth performance and apparent total tract nutrient digestibility of Holstein heifers limit-fed diets containing different amounts of wet brewer’s grains (WBG). A 12-wk randomized complete block study was conducted using 30 yearling Holstein heifers [378 ± 27 d of age, and body weight (BW) of 357.8 ± 27.6 kg (mean ± SD)]. Treatments were 0%, 10% and 20% of WBG on a dry matter (DM) basis and diets were formulated to be limit-fed for dry matter intake (DMI) at 2.35% of BW and provided 15% crude protein (CP) and 2.27 Mcal metabolizable energy/kg of DM. Dry matter intake was recorded daily, while BW and skeletal measurements were measured every 2 wk. During week 12, fecal samples were collected directly from the rectum over four consecutive days and composited by heifer to determine apparent total tract nutrient digestibility using acid detergent insoluble ash as a marker. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS. Dry matter intakes, BW, and average daily gain were not different among treatments (P = 0.2, P = 0.4, and P = 0.6, respectively). Dry matter intakes ranged from 8.6 to 9.0 kg/d. Average BW were 404.4, 411.5, and 409.3 kg for heifers fed the 0%, 10%, and 20% WBG diets, respectively. Average daily gains were 1.03, 1.04, and 0.96 kg/d for heifers fed the 0%, 10%, and 20% WBG diets respectively. Skeletal measurements and body condition scores (BCS) were not different among treatments except for the change in heart girth (P &lt; 0.01) and initial BCS (P &lt; 0.01). Apparent total tract digestibilities of DM, organic matter, CP, fat, and hemicellulose were greater or tended to be greater in heifers fed 0% and 20% WBG treatments than heifers fed 10 % WBG (P = 0.04, P = 0.04, P = 0.06, P = 0.06, and P = 0.01, respectively). Neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, and fat digestibilities were similar among treatments (P = 0.2, P = 0.3, and P = 0.3, respectively). During the digestibility phase, DMI tended to be greater (P = 0.08) for the 10% WBG treatment. These results demonstrate that limit-feeding heifers with diets containing up to 20% WBG could replace soybean- and corn-based concentrates in diets without adverse consequences to the heifer growth performance.


2019 ◽  
pp. 1429-1437
Author(s):  
Luara Cristina de Lima ◽  
Leandro Martins Barbero ◽  
Regina Maria Quintão Lana ◽  
Fernanda Carvalho Basso ◽  
Atalita Francis Cardoso ◽  
...  

Technologies that promote forage production provide gains of income in beef cattle. The objective of this research was to evaluate forage production, morphological components and nutritive value of pasture of Urochloa hybrid Convert HD364, with application of biostimulant, foliar fertilizers and urea. A completely randomized design with 7 treatments and 3 replications was used. The treatments consisted of T1 (control: no fertilization), T2 (urea), T3 (Fertmicro), T4 (FertN), T5 (biostimulant), T6 (Fertmicro+biostimulant), T7 (FertN+biostimulant). The leaf content and accumulation of macro and micronutrients, accumulation of dry mass and rate of forage accumulation, concentrations of crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber, morphological components were evaluated. The data were subjected to analysis of variance using the Tukey test at the 5% significance level for the comparison of mean values. The use of foliar fertilizers, nitrogen fertilizer and biostimulant promoted accumulation of forage dry mass, leaf, stem and dead material and higher rates of accumulation of dry mass of stem and dead material of Urochloa hybrid Convert HD364.


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