Ewe performance in the post-weaning phase and structural characteristics of Brachiaria brizantha cultivars in the dry season

Alex Álvares Da Silva,Gelson Dos Santos Difante,Leonardo Santana Fernandes,Antonio Leandro Chaves Gurgel,Nathalia Rafaela Fidelis Campos,Juliana Caroline Santos Santana,Roldão Teixeira De Carvalho Netto,João Virgínio Emerenciano Neto

doi:10.4025/actascianimsci.v43i1.52805

Abstract

The objective of this study was to examine the performance of ewes in the post-weaning phase and the structural characteristics of Brachiaria brizantha cultivars in the dry season. The treatments were represented by four Brachiaria brizantha cultivars (Piatã, Marandu, Paiaguás, and Xaraés), which were evaluated in a randomized-block design with two replicates for the forage variables and eight replicates for the animal performance variables. Canopy height, masses of forage and morphological components and chemical composition of morphological components were evaluated. Thirty-two ½ Santa Inês and ½ Dorper sheep with an initial body weight (BW) of 22.7 ± 1.2 kg were used. Average daily gain (ADG – kg animal-1 day-1), stocking rate (in animal units [AU] = 30 kg of body weight) and weight gain per area (kg ha-1 day-1) were measured. There was no cultivar effect (p > 0.05) on the structural characteristics of the pasture. The highest crude protein content in the leaf blade (11.8%) were found in cultivar Marandu. Average daily gain was higher in the animals that grazed on cultivar Marandu (0.08 kg animal-1 day-1) as compared with cultivars Xaraés (0.05 kg animal-1 day-1) and Piatã (0.04 kg animal-1 day-1), whereas the ewes that grazed on cultivar Paiaguás showed intermediate ADG values (0.06 kg animal-1 day-1). There was no difference between the cultivars for stocking rate (9.2 AU). Weight gain per area was highest in cultivar Marandu (0.33 kg ha-1 day-1) and lowest in cv. Piatã (0.16 kg ha-1 day-1). Brachiaria brizantha cultivars Piatã, Marandu, Paiaguás and Xaraés proved to be forage options for the post-weaning phase of ewes supplemented with concentrate in the dry season.

Highlights

The major feed source for ruminants in Brazil are pastures, which constitute one of the largest and most important ecosystems in the country (Euclides et al, 2019)
The present study was developed to examine the performance of ewes in the post-weaning phase and the structural characteristics of Brachiaria brizantha cultivars in the dry season
The treatments were represented by four Brachiaria brizantha cultivars, namely, Marandu, Piatã, Xaraés, and Paiaguás

Summary

Introduction

The major feed source for ruminants in Brazil are pastures, which constitute one of the largest and most important ecosystems in the country (Euclides et al, 2019) They are characterized by varying levels of complexity, ranging from low-productivity native fields (Oliveira, Macêdo, & Santos, 2019) to cultivated areas with high production potential (Euclides et al, 2017; Emerenciano Neto et al, 2018). Forage supply declines in response to the direct effect of abiotic factors that limit plant development (Euclides, Montagner, Barbosa, Valle, & Nantes, 2016). For this reason, the production performance of animals reared on pasture is seasonal (Emerenciano Neto et al, 2018). Essential to seek forage cultivars able to maintain forage availability—even if low-quality-, since the use of supplementation can partly correct these deficiencies, in addition to improving the use of these pastures in the dry period of the year (Gurgel et al, 2020; Fernandes et al, 2020a)

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