Sward Height Research Articles

Responses to condensed tannins of flowering sulla ( Hedysarum coronarium L.) grazed by dairy sheep : Part 1: Effects on feeding behaviour, intake, diet digestibility and performance

The concentration of condensed tannins (CT) in sulla ( Hedysarum coronarium L.) is moderate and overall regarded as beneficial. However, the intake of this forage can reduce diet digestibility, particularly during flowering phase. An experiment was run to assess the effect of CT on feeding behaviour, intake, diet digestibility and performance of dairy sheep rotationally grazing sulla at flowering phase. Twenty-four late-lactating sheep were blocked in two homogeneous groups and submitted to the following treatments: i) twice daily drenching with 200 g/day of a 50% w/v water solution of an anti-tannic substance, polyethylene glycol, group PEG; ii) twice daily drenching with 200 g/day of water, group CON (Control group). All the sheep rotationally grazed as a flock two sulla plots from April to June (8 weeks in total). Sward height, herbage mass, botanical and chemical composition of the herbage were measured at the beginning and the end of each grazing period. The feeding behaviour (3 sheep per group) was continuously monitored for 24 h in 6 weeks using the IGER behaviour recorders. Herbage DM intake (DMI), dietary DM digestibility (DMD) and apparent CP digestibility (CPD) were estimated on 8 sheep per group by the n-alkane method. On average, PEG group had longer total grazing (503 ± 12 vs 460 ± 12 min, P < 0.05) and eating time (425 ± 13 vs 391 ± 13 min, P < 0.07) than CON group. Moreover PEG group showed shorter inter-meal intervals (41 ± 3 vs 52 ± 3, min, P < 0.05) and higher number of daily meals than CT-exposed group (24 ± 1 vs 19 ± 1 min, P < 0.01). The herbage DMI was not affected by the treatment whereas DMD (74.60 ± 3.48 vs 58.30 ± 3.01%), and CPD (60.14 ± 4.83 vs 38.21 ± 4.83%) were both increased by PEG administration ( P < 0.05) confirming the negative effect of sulla CT on these variables. Milk yield tended to be higher in PEG than CON (1331 ± 45 vs 1205 ± 59 ml, P < 0.11). Milk protein content was similar between groups while milk fat content was higher in CON than PEG ewes (6.61 ± 0.15 vs 6.11 ± 0.15%, P < 0.05), being the reverse true for milk urea (46.04 ± 1.27 vs 53.04 ± 0.76%, P < 0.001). To conclude, this experiment shows that when sulla is grazed at flowering as monoculture, dietary CT can exert negative effects on DM and CP apparent digestibility, in this study partially counterbalanced by a better metabolic utilisation of the nutrients up-taken.

Grazing behaviour and pattern of intake of dairy cows grazing kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum) grass pastures in relation to sward height and length of grazing session

To investigate how grazing time, herbage dry matter intake (DMI) and intake rate (IR) are influenced by intensive grazing management, dairy cows strip-grazing subtropical grass pastures (Pennisetum clandestinum) at two compressed sward heights (10 and 13 cm) and at five grazing durations (1, 2, 4, 8 and 15 h) and replicated over 3 days were studied. The study was conducted in summer and the cows were observed every 20 min from 1600 to 0700 hours to calculate the time spent (min/h) grazing, ruminating and resting. Total time spent grazing was 45 min longer for cows grazing the 13-cm sward than for those grazing the 10-cm sward over the 15-h grazing period. The rate of increase in grazing time was 0.64 h/h grazing duration up to 4 h after introduction to fresh pasture. IR of cows grazing the 13-cm sward was significantly higher than those grazing the 10-cm sward (0.17 v. 0.12 kg DM/min spent grazing). The difference in IRs between sward height treatments resulted from the higher DMI in the 13-cm sward within the first 4 h of grazing compared with the 10-cm sward, although following the first 4-h grazing period IR was similar for both sward heights. Grazing time increased with sward height up to a maximum of 4 h after introduction to fresh pasture and had also maximised herbage DMI by this time. These results have important practical implications for dairy cow grazing management systems because they show that dairy managers could remove cows after 4 h with little compromise in production and will help in developing optimum supplementary feeding strategies when pasture availability limits DMI.

Frequency distribution of sward height of kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum) grass pastures intensively grazed by dairy cows

Swards that are grazed continuously by cattle can become heterogeneous in structure, such that frequencies of height measurements have a skewed distribution. This structure has been best described by the double-normal, gamma and Weibull distributions rather than by the more common single-normal distribution. Limited analysis of the frequency distribution of sward height under dairy cattle grazing management is available. The current paper reports the frequency distribution of sward height under intensive dairy cow grazing of kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum) in a subtropical environment. Frequencies of sward height were collected during an experiment designed to investigate the effects of compressed sward height and grazing duration on grazing behaviour of dairy cows. There were two compressed sward heights (10 and 13 cm; Earle and McGowan 1979) and five grazing durations (1, 2, 4, 8 and 15 h). The frequency of height measurements taken were then fitted to four distributions – single-normal, log-normal, gamma and Weibull – to determine if treatments influenced the structure of the sward as grazing duration progressed. The frequency of sward height measurement was best described by the log-normal distribution. However, no one distribution described the frequency of height measurements consistently as grazing duration progressed, as determined by Akaike information criteria. The present analysis did not provide unequivocal evidence for either bimodal or unimodal distributions describing the height measurements for 10- and 13-cm compressed sward height treatments as grazing duration progressed.

Acumulación de forraje, crecimiento y características estructurales del pasto Mombaza (Panicum maximum Jacq.) cosechado a diferentes intervalos de corte

The objective of the present study was to evaluate herbage accumulation, morphological composition, growth rate and structural characteristics in Mombasa grass swards subject to different cutting intervals (3, 5 and 7 wk) during the rainy and dry seasons of the year. Treatments were assigned to experimental units (17.5 m2) according to a complete randomised block design, with four replicates. Herbage accumulation was greater in the rainy than in the dry season (83 and 17 %, respectively). Herbage accumulation (24,300 kg DM ha-1), average growth rate (140 kg DM ha-1 d-1) and sward height (111 cm) were highest in the 7 wk cutting interval, but leaf proportion (56 %), leaf:stem (1.6) and leaf:non leaf (1.3) ratios decreased. Herbage accumulation, morphological composition and sward structure of Mombasa grass sward may be manipulated through defoliation frequency. The highest leaf proportion was recorded in the 3-wk cutting interval. Longer cutting intervals affected negatively sward structure, with potential negative effects on utilization efficiency, animal intake and performance.

Sward structure and nutritive value of tanzania guineagrass subjected to rotational stocking managements

The objective of this work was to evaluate the sward structure and nutritive value of Panicum maximum Jacq. cv. Tanzânia subjected to rotational stocking managements characterised by a common pre-grazing condition of 95% canopy light interception (LI) and two post-grazing residues, 25 and 50 cm. Treatments (95/25, 95/50 - LI/residue) were assigned to experimental units (groups of six 2500 m² paddocks per treatment) according to a complete randomised block design, with two replications. The variables measured corresponded to: canopy light interception, pre and post-grazing sward height, herbage mass and pre and post-grazing morphological composition, herbage bulk density, herbage accumulation and nutritive value (including to IVOMD) of the morphological components. Pre-grazing herbage mass did not differ between residues, although the herbage accumulation rate was higher for the 50 than the 25 cm (164.9 and 90.6 kg/ha.day DM, respectively). Post-grazing herbage mass values were higher for the 50 cm residue and were characterised by a higher proportion of leaf blade in relation to the 25 cm treatment, which presented a higher proportion of dead material. On average, the contents of crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and lignin in acid detergent (LAD) as well as the values of the "in vitro" organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) were similar for both treatments. Crude protein and IVOMD decreased and NDF and LAD increased from top to the bottom of the sward, indicating grazing intensity as an important variable for promoting adjustments in the grazing efficiency and nutritive value of the consumed herbage by the grazing animals.

Effect of restricted access time to pasture on dairy cow milk production, grazing behavior, and dry matter intake

The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effect of restricting pasture access time on milk production and composition, body weight and body condition score change, dry matter intake, and grazing behavior of autumn calving dairy cows in midlactation. Fifty-two (19 primiparous and 33 multiparous) Holstein-Friesian dairy cows (mean calving date, August 17±91.2 d) were randomly assigned to a 4-treatment (n = 13) randomized block design grazing study. The 4 grazing treatments were: (i) full-time access to pasture (22H; control), (ii) 9-h access to pasture (9H), (iii) two 4.5-h periods of access to pasture after both milkings (2×4.5H), and (iv) two 3-h periods of access to pasture after both milkings (2×3H). Experimental treatments were imposed from March 7 to April 6, 2007 (31 d). The pregrazing herbage mass of swards offered to all treatments was 1,268kg of dry matter/ha, and sward organic matter digestibility was 86.4%, indicating high-quality swards conducive to high dry matter intake. Swards where animals had 22H and 2×4.5H access to pasture had the lowest postgrazing sward heights (3.5cm), reflecting the greatest levels of sward utilization. After the experimental period, there were no differences in milk production; however, the 2×3H animals tended to have lower milk protein concentration (−0.17%) compared with 22H animals. Furthermore, dry matter intake of the 9H animals was lower than 22H animals. Although restricting access time to pasture decreased grazing time, animals compensated by increasing their intake/minute and intake/bite. Restricting pasture access time resulted in much greater grazing efficiency, because the 9H, 2×4.5H, and 2×3H treatments spent a greater proportion of their time at pasture grazing (81, 81, and 96%, respectively) than 22H animals (42%). Results of this study indicate that allocating animals restricted access to pasture does not significantly affect milk production. This study also found that the total access time should be greater than 6h and that perhaps needs to be divided into 2 periods.

Computational method for segmentation and classification of ingestive sounds in sheep

In this work we propose a novel method to analyze and recognize automatically sound signals of chewing and biting. For the automatic segmentation and classification of acoustical ingestive behaviour of sheep the method use an appropriate acoustic representation and statistical modelling based on hidden Markov models. We analyzed 1813 s of chewing data from four sheep eating two different forages typically found in grazing production systems, orchardgrass and alfalfa, each at two sward heights. Because identification of species consumed when in mixed swards is a key issue in grazing science, we tested the possibility to discriminate species and sward height by using the proposed approach. Signals were correctly classified by forage and sward height in 67% of the cases, whereas forage was correctly identified 84% of the time. The results showed an overall performance of 82% for the recognition of chewing events.

Annual and seasonal changes in production and composition of grazed clover-grass mixtures in organic farming

A grazed field experiment based on a randomised block design was conducted in Eastern Finland to evaluate the potential of alsike clover (Trifoliun hybridum L.), red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) and white clover (Trifolium repens L.) to support herbage production from clover-grass mixtures under organic farming practices. The effect of seed mixture (alsike clover, red clover, white clover, white and alsike clover or grass mixture), year (1996, 1997 and 1998) and grazing period (5 per grazing season) on pre- and post-grazing herbage mass (HM), botanical and chemical composition of pregrazing HM and post-grazing sward height was assessed. The nutritive value of herbage for milk production was also considered. Seed mixtures resulted in different pre-grazing HM and post-grazing sward heights, but similar pre- minus post-grazing HM. Compared with other mixtures, the proportion of clover was higher for white clover based mixtures. The white clover mixture had the highest crude protein content and lowest concentrations of cellulose and hemicellulose. In addition to seed mixture, the effect of year and grazing period on measured parameters was significant, highlighting the importance of grazing management. Moderate pasture herbage production of relative high nutritive value was achieved under organic practices, but the supply and nutritive value of herbage was variable and, in some cases, unable to meet the requirements of lactating dairy cows. The proportion of clover in all seed mixtures decreased year on year, and was subject to seasonal variations that altered the nutritional value of herbage. White clover was the most suitable perennial clover for pastures in Eastern Finland.;

The effects of low levels of nitrogen deposition and grazing on dune grassland

Coastal sand dunes are considered to be threatened by the atmospheric deposition of nitrogen (N); however, experimental investigations of the effects of N deposition on dune vegetation and soil using realistic N loads and sites with low background deposition are scarce. This study reports the effects of low levels of fertilisation with N and phosphorus (P) on the vegetation, above-ground biomass, plant tissue chemistry and soil chemistry of fixed dune grasslands. In addition, the impacts of grazing management and its potential to mitigate adverse effects of N fertilisation were examined. Four N treatments (unwatered control, watered control, + 7.5 kg ha − 1 year − 1 , + 15 kg ha − 1 year − 1 ) were combined with three grazing treatments (ungrazed, rabbit grazed, rabbit and pony grazed). In a separate experiment, effects of fertilisation with both N (15 kg ha − 1 year − 1 ) and P (20 kg ha − 1 year − 1 ) were investigated. Vegetation composition was assessed using the point quadrat method. Above-ground biomass, sward heights, tissue N and P concentrations and soil chemical parameters were also measured. After two years, N addition resulted in greater amounts of total above-ground biomass, bryophyte biomass and changes in bryophyte tissue chemistry. No effects on vegetation composition, sward height or soil parameters occurred. Fertilisation with both nutrients had a greater impact on above-ground biomass, sward heights and sward structure than N addition alone. The grazing treatments differed in their species composition. The changes observed after only two years of fertilisation may lead to community changes over longer time scales. Effects were observed even under heavy grazing with phosphorus limitation. Therefore, the upper critical load for N for dune grasslands may be below the previously proposed 20 kg ha − 1 year − 1 and grazing may not mitigate all negative effects of N deposition.

Padrões de uso do tempo por novilhos em pastagem consorciada de azevém anual e aveia-preta

Com objetivo de avaliar o comportamento de pastejo de novilhos de corte, foi desenvolvido um experimento em pastagem de azevém anual (Lolium multiflorum Lam) e aveia-preta (Avena strigosa Schreb) submetida a quatro alturas de manejo (10, 20, 30 e 40 cm). Adotou-se o delineamento de blocos completos casualizados, com três repetições. O registro dos dados foi realizado durante o período diurno, por observação visual, em três datas de avaliação: duas no estádio vegetativo e uma no estádio reprodutivo. Avaliaram-se os tempos de pastejo, de ruminação e de outras atividades; o número e o tempo de duração das refeições; e o número e o tempo de duração dos intervalos de refeições. Com o aumento da altura do pasto, os animais reduziram o tempo de pastejo e o tempo de duração da refeição, mas aumentaram o tempo de ruminação. O tempo gasto em outras atividades, o número de refeições e a duração e o número de intervalos não diferiram entre as alturas impostas. O comportamento de pastejo dos animais é influenciado pela altura do pasto.

A conservation paradox for the 21st century: the European wild rabbitOryctolagus cuniculus, an invasive alien and an endangered native species

ABSTRACTThis review highlights the status of the European wild rabbitOryctolagus cuniculus, which is threatened within its native range and yet is a highly successful colonizer across its worldwide, introduced range.The European wild rabbit is a keystone species in Iberia, and the survival of a range of threatened predator species, including the Iberian lynxLynx pardinusand Spanish imperial eagleAquila aldabertii, is dependent upon the restoration of rabbit populations. Although not native to the UK, the rabbit also performs significant ecosystem services for nationally rare UK species, by maintaining short sward heights in heathland and grassland ecosystems, and serving as a prey item for populations of predators.We identify the European wild rabbit as an excellent model to demonstrate the wide range of complex effects that an introduced mammalian species may exert on ecosystems to which it has been introduced. These effects include habitat degradation following overgrazing, competition with native mammals and facilitating meso‐predator release and hyperpredation.We also show that rabbit eradication from some sites may generate more problems than are solved because of the impacts of trophic cascades stemming from dependence on rabbits by native predator assemblages.

Algorithm for estimating the crop height effect on ammonia emission from slurry applied to cereal fields and grassland

Ammonia (NH3) emission following the application of livestock slurry to agricultural land is a significant source of atmospheric NH3, and not only poses a risk to the environment through eutrophication and acidification of sensitive ecosystems, but may also result in a loss of plant-available nitrogen (N). The band-spread slurry application technologies of trailing hose and trailing shoe have been shown to reduce NH3 emissions and consequently to increase plant uptake of slurry-applied N. There is a need to improve the precision in calculating the reduction in NH3 emission nationally and at farm level, and this may be achieved through the development of algorithms that more accurately estimate NH3 emission and also support the assessment of fertilizer efficiency of slurry that is band-applied to crops. Therefore, this study reviewed studies of NH3 emission from slurry band applied with a trailing hose or shoe with the objective of developing an algorithm for calculating the reduction efficiency of the band application technique in relation to crop height. The developed algorithm predicted that for slurry applications to cereal crops, the reduction efficiency would increase by slightly less than 1% for every 1 cm increase in crop height. For slurry application to grassland, the reduction efficiency was predicted to increase by approximately 5% for every 1 cm increase in sward height. The developed algorithm was used in combination with the ALFAM model, which predicts NH3 emission from slurry applications to bare soil, to provide monthly coefficients for estimating NH3 emission from slurry applied to bare soil, cereal crops and grassland for Denmark and Southern England. Inclusion of the crop height algorithm in the emission factor derivation predicted, for example, a decrease in the emission factor for cattle slurry application by trailing hose to winter wheat from c. 25% to c. 15% of applied ammoniacal N for applications in January and May, respectively. While the algorithm developed in this study would benefit from wider validation, should more published data become available, the present paper demonstrates its potential value as an educational tool for farmers and advisers in developing more sustainable manure management strategies and for inclusion in emission factor calculations for national inventories to both improve the temporal distribution of emissions from slurry application and to better reflect improved management practices of farmers.

Componentes morfológicos e produção de forragem de pastagem de aveia e azevém manejada em diferentes alturas

Avaliou-se a dinâmica de produção de forragem em pastagem de aveia-preta (Avena strigosa Schreb) e azevém (Lolium multiflorum Lam) manejada em diversas alturas de manejo com o objetivo de evidenciar as potencialidades dessa mistura em sistemas de integração lavoura-pecuária. Os tratamentos consistiram de quatro alturas de manejo da pastagem (10; 20; 30 e 40 cm), medidas com bastão graduado e avaliadas em blocos casualizados com três repetições. O método de pastejo foi contínuo, com taxa de lotação variável. Utilizaram-se bezerros de corte mestiços com 10 meses de idade e peso médio inicial de 210 kg, respectivamente. As características da pastagem estudadas foram: massa de forragem (MF); taxa de acúmulo de forragem (TAC); produção total de forragem (PTMS); e quantificação dos componentes morfológicos da pastagem (colmo, lâmina e material morto). A massa de forragem aumentou de forma linear de acordo com a altura do pasto, uma vez que, para cada cm de aumento na altura superior a 10 cm, a matéria seca aumentou aproximadamente 90 kg/ha. Não houve efeito das alturas da pastagem sobre a TAC ou sobre a PTMS, cujos valores médios foram de 66,8 kg/ha/dia de MS e 10.721 kg/ha de MS, respectivamente. A porcentagem de folhas de azevém foi maior que a de folhas de aveia nos três períodos de avaliação e, na altura de 10 cm, foi superior à obtida nas demais alturas na última avaliação (em torno de 20% da participação total da massa de forragem). A aveia apresenta rápido desenvolvimento inicial e diminuição na produção nos períodos posteriores de desenvolvimento.

Experimental verification of suction sampler capture efficiency in grasslands of differing vegetation height and structure

1. Suction sampling is a popular method for the collection of quantitative data on grassland invertebrate populations, although there have been no detailed studies into the effectiveness of the method. 2. We investigate the effect of effort (duration and number of suction samples) and sward height on the efficiency of suction sampling of grassland beetle, true bug, planthopper and spider populations. We also compare suction sampling with an absolute sampling method based on the destructive removal of turfs. 3. Sampling for durations of 16 s was sufficient to collect 90% of all individuals and species of grassland beetles, with less time required for the true bugs, spiders and planthoppers. The number of samples required to collect 90% of the species was more variable, although in general 55 sub-samples was sufficient for all groups, except the true bugs. Increasing sward height had a negative effect on the capture efficiency of suction sampling. 4. The assemblage structure of beetles, planthoppers and spiders was independent of the sampling method (suction or absolute) used. 5. Synthesis and applications . In contrast to other sampling methods used in grassland habitats (e.g. sweep netting or pitfall trapping), suction sampling is an effective quantitative tool for the measurement of invertebrate diversity and assemblage structure providing sward height is included as a covariate. The effective sampling of beetles, true bugs, planthoppers and spiders altogether requires a minimum sampling effort of 110 sub-samples of duration of 16 s. Such sampling intensities can be adjusted depending on the taxa sampled, and we provide information to minimize sampling problems associated with this versatile technique. Suction sampling should remain an important component in the toolbox of experimental techniques used during both experimental and management sampling regimes within agroecosystems, grasslands or other low-lying vegetation type.

Expansion of Calamagrostis villosa in sub-alpine Nardus stricta grassland: Cessation of cutting management or high nitrogen deposition?

Calamagrostis villosa has recently expanded in Nardus stricta-dominated sub-alpine grassland of the Giant Mountains (Krkonoše/Karkonosze, the Czech Republic). To investigate whether this expansion has been promoted by high nitrogen deposition or by the cessation of agricultural management, grassland plots dominated by C. villosa were manipulated with four treatments: control (Con), fertilised (Fer), cut (Cut) and cut–fertilised (Cut–Fer). NH 4NO 3 was used at the rate of 30 kg N ha −1 and fertilisation and cutting were performed once a year after data collection in late July between 2000 and 2006. Plant species composition (analysed by RDA) was significantly influenced by cutting but not by fertilisation. Cutting reduced the cover, biomass, sward height and tiller density of C. villosa. Seedlings of N. stricta and panicles of C. villosa were recorded only in plots with cutting management. To investigate the effect of treatments on the spread of C. villosa, grassland sods dominated by N. stricta were transplanted into the experimental plots. Six years later, the density and cover of C. villosa spreading into the N. stricta sods were highest in Fer treatment. C. villosa was recognised as a defoliation-sensitive species and this sensitivity cannot be overcome by an increase in N supply. Recent expansion of C. villosa in the sub-alpine grassland can by explained by a long-term succession after the cessation of agricultural management and an increase in the N availability in recent decades.

Desempenho animal, produção de forragem e características estruturais dos capins marandu e xaraés submetidos a intensidades de pastejo

Os objetivos foram avaliar a produção de forragem, as características estruturais, a ingestão de forragem, o comportamento de ingestão e o desempenho animal de bovinos em pastos de capins marandu e xaraés submetidos a três intensidades de pastejo. O período experimental foi de outubro de 2005 a junho de 2006 em área de 8 hectares, divididos em 12 piquetes de 0,67 hectares. Foram avaliados dois cultivares de B. brizantha (Marandu e Xaraés) e três intensidades de pastejo (15, 30 e 45 cm de altura do dossel). O delineamento experimental foi de blocos completos casualizados com parcelas subdivididas com duas repetições. As parcelas principais foram constituídas pelos cultivares e as subparcelas pelas intensidades de pastejo. O método de pastejo utilizado foi de lotação contínua com taxa de lotação variável. Cada piquete foi pastejado por três novilhos e por animais reguladores, utilizados para ajustar as alturas do dossel. As alturas foram monitoradas duas vezes por semana. Os pastos foram amostrados a cada 28 dias para estimativa da massa de forragem, da taxa de acúmulo de forragem, das características estruturais e do valor nutritivo. Os animais foram pesados a cada 28 dias. O consumo de matéria seca foi estimado no verão e outono, e o comportamento de ingestão no verão. A taxa de acúmulo e o ganho médio diário decresceu à medida que aumentou a intensidade de pastejo nos pastos de capins xaraés e marandu. O consumo de forragem pelos animais nos pastos de capim xaraés foi limitado pela variação na estrutura do dossel. Considerando as características estruturais do dossel, o consumo de forragem e a produtividade, estes capins requerem práticas de manejo diferenciadas: o capim-marandu deve ser manejado entre 25 e 40 cm de altura e o capim-xaraés a 40 cm.

Carbono orgânico e fósforo microbiano em sistema de integração agricultura-pecuária submetido a diferentes intensidades de pastejo em plantio direto

Sistemas de integração agricultura-pecuária têm despertado maior interesse de pesquisadores nos últimos anos por proporcionarem maior estabilidade e sustentabilidade à produção agropecuária, em relação ao modelo de produção mais especializado atualmente predominante. Um dos indicadores desta estabilidade e sustentabilidade que vem sendo utilizado é o teor de C do solo. Neste sentido, o presente estudo objetivou avaliar os estoques nas frações do C orgânico total e P da biomassa microbiana de um Latossolo Vermelho distroférrico, sob sistema de integração agricultura-pecuária, em plantio direto submetido a diferentes intensidades de pastejo, no inverno, por seis anos. As amostras de solo foram coletadas em novembro de 2006, em área experimental sob sistema de integração instalado em maio de 2001. Anteriormente, a área, localizada no município de São Miguel das Missões - RS, vinha sendo cultivada há 10 anos sob sistema plantio direto. O delineamento foi o de blocos completos ao acaso com três repetições. Os tratamentos foram intensidades de pastejo de 10, 20 e 40 cm de altura do pasto aplicadas no ciclo da pastagem, durante o período hibernal, em uma pastagem constituída por aveia e azevém, além de uma área testemunha sem pastejo. Foram determinados os estoques de C orgânico total e particulado, os teores de P e C da biomassa microbiana, bem como a atividade da biomassa microbiana. Os estoques de C orgânico total não foram influenciados pelas intensidades de pastejo, porém os estoques de C orgânico particulado foram menores na área com maior intensidade de pastejo. Neste tratamento, o estímulo à biomassa microbiana e ao crescimento radicular foram maiores. O teor de P da biomassa aumentou com a diminuição da intensidade de pastejo, ocorrendo o inverso com a biomassa microbiana. O C orgânico particulado foi o atributo mais sensível em demonstrar variações no C orgânico do solo sob as condições de manejo da pastagem adotadas.

Effect of altering the grazing interval on growth and utilization of grass herbage and performance of dairy cows under rotational grazing

SummaryThe effects of short grazing intervals in the early part of the grazing season on the growth and utilization of grass herbage, and the performance of grazing dairy cows, in a rotational grazing system were examined. Seventy‐six cows were allocated to two grazing treatments: a normal rotation treatment (20‐d rotations for the first 60 d) and a short rotation treatment (12‐, 8‐, 8‐, 8‐, 12‐ and 12‐day rotations). Thereafter, both treatments had the same grazing interval and over the season as a whole both treatments received the same amount of nitrogen fertilizer and were stocked at the same rate. The short rotation treatment significantly reduced pre‐ and post‐grazing sward heights and pre‐grazing herbage mass in May and June. Total herbage production was significantly lower on the short than the normal rotation treatment as a result of a significant reduction in the growth rate of herbage in May and June. The short rotation treatment had a significantly lower milk output per cow. Grazing shorter swards, as a result of shorter rotations, significantly reduced herbage intake, reflecting reductions in intake per bite, grazing time and total bites per day. Treatment had no significant effect on herbage quality or pre‐ and post‐grazing sward height in August and September, despite the increased grazing severity in May and June with the short rotations. The severity of rotation length in this instance had a detrimental impact on animal performance, whereas a more modest reduction in grazing interval may control herbage production, without reducing animal performance.

Densidade e qualidade dos estratos de forragem do capim Tanzânia (&lt;em&gt;Panicum maximum&lt;/em&gt; Jacq. Cv. Tanzânia-1) manejado em diferentes alturas, sob pastejo

The effect of different sward heights (24; 26; 43; 45; 52; 62; 73 and 78 cm) on forage quality and profile structure Tanzania grass, Panicum maximum Jacq. cv. Tanzania – 1 (Poaceae) is provided. Nelore steers were used in grazing at variable stocking rates with put and take technique. The experimental design was completely randomized, with two replications. Total dry matter bulk densitity (TDMD) increased during experimental period, while the leaf blade dry matter bulk density (LDMD) was not influenced by period on by sward height. The upper layers had the best quality with higher LDMD and CP levels. Lower layers had the worst quality, due the higher TDMD and lower LDMD. This fact caused higher ADF and NDF levels and lower CP levels. Leaf blade mineral content was higher than that of stem, and remained unaltered in relation to the different layers.

SELECTIVIDAD DE VACAS LECHERAS EN PASTOREO POR CULTIVARES DE Lolium perenne L

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of herbage mass, metabolizable energy content, tiller density and dimensions on grazing selectivity, measured by grazing time and estimated herbage intake, on the ryegrass ingestive behaviour of lacting dairy cows. This study was conducted with ten L. perenne cultivars: Bronsyn SE, Bronsyn AR1, Impact, Impact AR1, Aries, LP 296, Arrow, Meridian, Matrix and Nui. During the establishment period, 35 kg of N, 228 kg of P2O5 and 123 kg of K2O were applied per ha and 30 additional kg of N were applied after each grazing event. When any L. perenne cultivar reached an average undisturbed sward surface height of 20 cm, all plots were harvested and then grazed, with no more than 60 days between harvests. After each grazing event, the trial was cut to a 4 cm stubble height. The undisturbed sward surface height and the herbage mass preand post-grazing, the estimated herbage intake, metabolizable energy content, tiller density, leaf length, leaf width, sheet weight and leaf weight were evaluated. Grazing behavior variables included only grazing time. The experimental design was a randomized block with 10 treatments (10 L. perenne cultivars) and 3 blocks. The results were analysed through ANOVA and the Waller - Duncan test was used to compare means. The cows did not discriminate among cultivars during the entire experiment, with no significant differences in grazing time and estimated herbage intake between cultivars. In general, there were no significant differences among cultivars in terms of: herbage mass, undisturbed sward surface height, metabolizable energy content, tiller density and dimensions, and any significant differences in these variables for some grazing events were not large enough to influence grazing selectivity.