Forage quality and performance of sheep in Massai grass pastures managed at pre-grazing canopy heights
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of pasture height at pre-grazing of Massai grass on the quality of available forage, forage intake and the performance of lambs raised for meat production. The treatments consisted of four pre-grazing canopy heights (35, 40, 45 and 50 cm). Pastures were managed by the intermittent stocking method and 32 sheep were used. Dry matter intake (DMI) was estimated by Lipe® indicator. Green forage allowance was not affected by pre-grazing heights. There was no effect of heights on the chemical composition of the stem or the leaf blades, except for crude protein content of leaf blades, which showed an inverse linear effect. Grazing time had a quadratic response in function of canopy height. The minimum point was at 42.6 cm, with 502.9 min/day. DMI increased linearly with increasing pasture height. Average daily weight gain (ADG) and stocking rate (SR) responded linearly to pre-grazing heights. Weight gain per hectare was not affected by height as a result of the compensation between SR and ADG. The increase from 35 to 50 cm in Massai grass canopy height reduces its nutritional value and individual performance and increases DMI of sheep intended for meat production.
Main Authors: | Emerenciano Neto,J.V., Difante,G.S., Lana,Â.M.Q., Medeiros,H.R., Aguiar,E.M., Montagner,D.B., Souza,J.S. |
---|---|
Format: | Digital revista |
Language: | English |
Published: |
The South African Society for Animal Science (SASAS)
2018
|
Online Access: | http://www.scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0375-15892018000700010 |
Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
Similar Items
-
Ingestive behavior of sheep on Massai grass under different pre-grazing heights under rotational stocking
by: CARDOSO,Rebeca Rocha, et al.
Published: (2019) -
Performance of sheep grazing Panicum maximum cv. Massai and supplemented with protein sources during the dry season
by: Fernandes,L.S., et al.
Published: (2020) -
Gas exchange in Massai grass fertilized with nitrogen and grazed by sheep.
by: LOPES, M. N., et al.
Published: (2020-05-27) -
Tillering dynamics in massai grass fertilized with nitrogen and grazed by sheep.
by: LOPES, M. N., et al.
Published: (2016-11-30) -
Forage intake process of goats on a Massai grass pasture with different sward heights.
by: RODRIGUES, M. M., et al.
Published: (2017-02-21)