Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the intake and milk yield of crossbred cows (Holstein x Zebu), under two management strategies, based on 95% light interception and fixed days. Eight lactating cows with body weight of 466 kg (± 35 kg) and lactation stage of 137 days (± 107 days) were used, four animals were assigned to each treatment. Dry matter intake was estimated indirectly, using neutral detergent insoluble fiber as internal indicator and chromium oxide as external indicator. This was a completely randomized design, with four replications, two grazing strategies and three days of occupation. The animals under light management showed dry matter intake on the first day (11.42 kg) similar to the second day (9.57 kg), and this was similar to the third day (7.06 kg), but the intake on the first day was greater than on the third day. On the fixed days, intake did not differ between the first and second day (12.05 and 11.47 kg, respectively), and intake of the third day (6.70 kg) was lower than in the first two days. The dry matter intake in relation to the body weight of the animals presented similar results to the dry matter intake of forage in kilos, which can be explained by the small difference in weight between the mean of the groups. The individual milk yield showed a similar behavior among the grazing strategies for the days of occupation, which increased from the first to the second day (12.49 to 13.88 kg) and decreased from the second to the third day (12.20 kg). Grazing management strategies did not promote differences in the performance traits of lactating cows. The day of grazing during the period of occupation can be decisive for intake and production.
Highlights
The intensification of pasture use has been widely used in farms destined for dairy production, in order to directly increase the profitability of the livestock system
Dry matter intake is one of the most important elements for animal performance, since it is the primary factor for the ingestion of nutrients, especially energy and protein, necessary to meet the maintenance and production requirements of the animal (Brâncio et al 2003)
Pasture management was conducted under two strategies, with 24 days of fixed rest period (DF) and 95% light interception (IL), in four grazing cycles
Summary
The intensification of pasture use has been widely used in farms destined for dairy production, in order to directly increase the profitability of the livestock system. Pasture is the most efficient feed from the economic point of view for cattle feeding, which justifies efforts to optimize the resources that compose the pasture ecosystem. In this sense, the adoption of pasture management strategies that aim to combine a greater supply of forage and adequate nutritional value can contribute in an effective way to increase the productivity of the zootechnical exploitation. The management of grazing with intermittent stocking has periods of occupation that can vary from one to seven days, which results in a diet that varies throughout the stay of the animals in the paddock, so that the longer the period of occupation, the greater the quantitative and qualitative losses in the pasture (Cóser et al, 1999). Studies on tropical forage management in pastures based on ecophysiological characteristics have provided results similar to those obtained with temperate forages, which have been evaluated for a longer time, with higher volume of work (Voltolini et al, 2010).
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