Forage mass and the nutritive value of pastures mixed with forage peanut and red clover

Ricardo Lima De Azevedo Junior,Priscila Flores Aguirre,Tiago Horst,Mauricio Pase Quatrin,Cláudia Marques De Bem,Clair Jorge Olivo,Marciele Machado Dos Santos,Vinicius Felipe Bratz

doi:10.1590/s1516-35982012000400002

Ricardo Lima De Azevedo Junior, Priscila Flores Aguirre + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/s1516-35982012000400002

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Abstract

The objective of this research was to estimate three pasture-based systems mixed with elephantgrass + spontaneous growth species, annual ryegrass, for pasture-based system 1; elephantgrass + spontaneous growth species + forage peanut, for pasture-based system 2; and elephantgrass + spontaneous growth species + annual ryegrass + red clover, for pasture-based system 3. Elephantgrass was planted in rows 4 m apart from each other. During the cool-season, annual ryegrass was sown in the alleys between the rows of elephantgrass; forage peanut and red clover were sown in the alleys between the elephantgrass according to the respective treatment. The experimental design was totally randomized in the three treatments (pasture-based systems), two replicates (paddocks) in completely split-plot time (grazing cycles). Holstein cows receiving 5.5 kg-daily complementary concentrate feed were used in the evaluation. Pre-grazing forage mass, botanical composition and stocking rate were evaluated. Samples of simulated grazing were collected to analyze organic matter (OM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), crude protein (CP) and organic matter in situ digestibility (OMISD). Nine grazing cycles were performed during the experimental period (341 days). The average dry matter values for pre-grazing and stocking rate were 3.34; 3.46; 3.79 t/ha, and 3.28; 3.34; 3.60 AU/ha for each respective pasture-based system. Similar results were observed between the pasture-based systems for OM, NDF, CP and OMISD. Considering forage mass, stocking rate and nutritive value, the pasture-based system intercropped with forage legumes presented better performance.

Highlights

Dairy production is a predominant activity in the small agricultural properties of Rio Grande do Sul state, where most of them have in their grass-based pastures a main supplemental resource for the cows
During the cool-season, annual ryegrass was sown in the alleys between the rows of elephantgrass; forage peanut and red clover were sown in the alleys between the elephantgrass according to the respective treatment
For the hot season grasses, such as the elephantgrass, short periods of occupation and grazing cycles close to 30 days are associated to the production/animal performance ratio (Deresz et al, 2001)

Summary

Introduction

Dairy production is a predominant activity in the small agricultural properties of Rio Grande do Sul state, where most of them have in their grass-based pastures a main supplemental resource for the cows. The utilization of forage legumes brings great expectations related to cost reduction and in increases in animal dairy production compared with pure grass pastures, with or without nitrogen fertilization (Assmann et al, 2004). Among the forage legumes of potential utilization in forage systems, the forage peanut is highlighted due to its high regrowth capacity and nutritional value above most of other tropical forage legumes (Andrade et al, 2006; Bresolin et al, 2008). Another forage legume that suits the South Region is the red clover, for its remarkable adaptability, palatability and good forage profitability and quality (Montardo et al, 2003)

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