Forage structure and performance of sheep raised on massai grass during the dry season in response to wet season management

Authors

  • A. L. C. Gurgel Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Macaíba, RN.
  • G. S. Difante
  • J. V. Emerenciano Neto Universidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco, Petrolina, PE.
  • J. S. Souza Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG.
  • E. L. L. Veras Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Macaíba, RN.
  • A. B. G. Costa Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Macaíba, RN.
  • R. T. Carvalho Netto Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Macaíba, RN.
  • L. S. Fernandes Universidade Federal do Maranhão, Chapadinha, MA.
  • J. C. Cunha Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Macaíba, RN.
  • F. F. S. Roberto Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Macaíba, RN.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17523/bia.v74n2p86

Keywords:

chemical composition, weight gain, Panicum maximum, stocking rate.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the canopy structure and performance of sheep raised on massai grass during the dry season in response to the management adopted during the wet season. The treatments consisted of two targets of light interception (90 and 95%) and two post-grazing heights (15 and 25 cm) in a 2 x 2 factorial scheme. Pastures were managed during the wet season, while continuous stocking was used during the dry season. The following pasture characteristics were evaluated: canopy height, forage mass, leaf blade, stem and dead matter mass, leaf blade:stem ratio, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber and acid detergent lignin content, and dead matter of morphological components. Sixteen sheep with an initial body weight of 19 ± 4.7 kg were used and average daily gain, weight gain per hectare and stocking rate were evaluated. The interactions between sources of variation were not significant for any of the variables. Post-grazing heights modified total forage and dead matter mass in the dry season, with the highest values of 2912.5 and 1840.9 kg/ha of dry matter, respectively, being observed when the pastures were managed at 25 cm during the wet season. There was no effect of the management adopted during the wet season on the chemical composition of leaf blades during the dry season. The management adopted during the wet season exerted no effect on animal performance during the dry season. Pasture management to a post-grazing height of 25 cm during the wet season, irrespective of pre-grazing target (90% or 95% light interception), maintains the most adequate forage structure during the dry season. The management adopted during the wet season did not

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Downloads

Published

2017-07-19

Issue

Vol. 74 No. 2 (2017)

Section

FORAGE CROPS AND PASTURES

License

Os autores não serão remunerados pela publicação de trabalhos, pois devem abrir mão de seus direitos autorais em favor deste periódico. Por outro lado, os autores ficam autorizados a publicar seus artigos, simultaneamente, em repositórios da instituição de sua origem, desde que citada a fonte da publicação original seja Boletim de Indústria Animal. A revista se reserva o direito de efetuar, nos originais, alterações de ordem normativa, ortográfica e gramatical, com vistas a manter o padrão culto da língua e a credibilidade do veículo. Respeitará, no entanto, o estilo de escrever dos autores. Alterações, correções ou sugestões de ordem conceitual serão encaminhadas aos autores, quando necessário. Nesses casos, os artigos, depois de adequados, deverão ser submetidos a nova apreciação. As opiniões emitidas pelos autores dos artigos são de sua exclusiva responsabilidade. Todo o conteúdo deste periódico, exceto onde está identificado, está licenciado sob a Licença Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY-NC). A condição BY implica que os licenciados podem copiar, distribuir, exibir e executar a obra e fazer trabalhos derivados com base em que só se dão o autor ou licenciante os créditos na forma especificada por estes. A cláusula NC significa que os licenciados podem copiar, distribuir, exibir e executar a obra e fazer trabalhos derivados com base apenas para fins não comerciais.

How to Cite

Forage structure and performance of sheep raised on massai grass during the dry season in response to wet season management. (2017). Bulletin of Animal Husbandry, 74(2), 86-95. https://doi.org/10.17523/bia.v74n2p86

Most read articles by the same author(s)