&lt;b&gt;forage systems mixed with forage legumes grazed by lactating cows

Clair Jorge Olivo,Priscila Flôres Aguirre,Michelle Schalemberg Diehl,Vinicius Felipe Bratz,Caroline Paim Sauter,Carlos Alberto Agnolin

doi:10.4025/actascianimsci.v39i1.32300

<b>forage systems mixed with forage legumes grazed by lactating cows

Clair Jorge Olivo, Priscila Flôres Aguirre + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.4025/actascianimsci.v39i1.32300

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Abstract

Current research evaluates productivity, stocking and nutritional rates of three forage systems with Elephant Grass (EG) + Italian Ryegrass (IR) + Spontaneous Growth Species (SGS), without forage legumes; EG + IR + SGS + Forage Peanut (FP), mixed with FP; and EG + IR + SGS + Red Clover (RC), mixed with RC, in rotational grazing method by lactating cows. IR developed between rows of EG. FP was maintained, whilst RC was sow to respective forage systems. The experimental design was completely randomized, with three treatments and two replication, subdivided into parcels over time. Mean rate for forage yield and average stocking rate were 10.6, 11.6 and 14.4 t ha -1 ; 3.0, 2.8 and 3.1 animal unit ha -1 day -1 , for the respective systems. Levels of crude protein and total digestible nutrients were 17.8, 18.7 and 17.5%; 66.5, 66.8 and 64.8%, for the respective forage systems. The presence of RC results in better and higher forage yield in the mixture, whilst FP results in greater control of SGS. The inclusion of forage legumes in pasture systems provides better nutritional rates.

Highlights

Pastures constitute the main component of the animal’s diet in dairy livestock systems, especially in subtropical climate regions, where soil and climate conditions favor several forage species to grow at different times of the year (Moreira, Prado, Cecato, Wada, & Mizubuti, 2004; Silva et al, 2011)
Current study investigates forage systems composed of Elephant grass, Italian ryegrass, spontaneous growing species and legumes; Forage peanut or Red clover subjected to rotational stocking grazing throughout the growing season, with regard to forage mass, dry matter yield, stocking rate and nutritional rates
The lowest herbage mass rate occurred in July, due to Elephant grass seasonality, and in October as a result of mowing done in August

Summary

Introduction

Pastures constitute the main component of the animal’s diet in dairy livestock systems, especially in subtropical climate regions, where soil and climate conditions favor several forage species to grow at different times of the year (Moreira, Prado, Cecato, Wada, & Mizubuti, 2004; Silva et al, 2011). The use of more sustainable techniques, such as intercropping with legumes and mixing with other grasses, may balance forage supply and quality of forage during the agricultural year and minimize the environmental impact due to less use of nitrogen fertilizers (Olivo et al, 2012). Several research studies have shown that the use of legumes in intercropping with grasses may reduce direct spending on fertilizers, increase the quality and diversification of the diet consumed by the animals, improve forage availability by nitrogen supply to the system through recycling and transfer. Current study investigates forage systems composed of Elephant grass, Italian ryegrass, spontaneous growing species and legumes; Forage peanut or Red clover subjected to rotational stocking grazing throughout the growing season, with regard to forage mass, dry matter yield, stocking rate and nutritional rates

Material and methods

Results and discussion

Conclusion