Abstract
Voluntary intake and performance of dairy heifers grazing on Urochloa decumbens pastures with two deferral periods are evaluated. The totally randomized experimental design consisted of two treatments and seven replications, with two deferral periods: T1 = 95 and T2 = 140 days. Fourteen Holstein-Zebu heifers, average body weight (BW) 300 kg, were used. Intake of forage dry matter was 2.5% and 1.2 BW respectively for treatments 95 and 140 days. In treatment T2 the animals had an intake of only 139.5 g of CP, due to low nutrient content, or rather, 3.4% of CP in the forage available. There was an intake of NDF of 1.7% and 1.0 of BW for T1 and T2, respectively. The average daily weight gain was 785.8 g day -1 for T1 and average weight loss of -31.1 g day -1 for T2. Deferral of pastures Urochloa decumbens for 95 days to allow a 1.5 lodging index provides greater consumption and performance of dairy heifers. Deferral of Urochloa decumbens pastures to allow a 1.5 lodging index provides greater intake and performance of dairy heifers.
Highlights
Production of heifers on grazing pastures is one of the most competitive and income-producing alternatives when administered and planned rationally
After ground in a Willey mill with a 1 mm sieve, dry matter rates (DM), total nitrogen and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) in total forage samples were determined according to Silva and Queiroz (2002)
Weighing was preceded by 12-h fasting and animal performance was determined by the difference between initial body weight (BW) and final BW divided by the experimental period in days
Summary
Production of heifers on grazing pastures is one of the most competitive and income-producing alternatives when administered and planned rationally. There are increasingly high proportions of stems and a decrease in leaf:stem ratio in the pasture biomass Since the latter are scarcely consumed, the animals’ low productivity may occur in such conditions (SANTOS et al, 2004). 109-115, Jan.-Mar., 2014 supplementation in deferred pastures may be maximized, the available forage must be of such quality, composition and structural features that it would not restrict animal intake. Animal performance is directly dependent on daily forage intake and indirectly by the effects of the grazing process on forage composition, structural characteristics and productivity. Modifications in mass and supply of available forage occur during the grazing period and they influence the animals’ ingestion behavior and performance (SANTOS et al, 2009c). Understanding changes in forage composition and structure on animals’ intake and performance may trigger efficient management recommendations on deferred pastures.
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