Grazing patterns on signalgrass pasture according to location of cattle feces
This study was conducted to evaluate the defoliation patterns on B. decumbens cv. Basilisk (signalgrass) tiller as a function of influence of feces deposited naturally by cattle. The signalgrass was managed with an average height of 25 cm, under continuous stocking and variable stocking rate. Interv...
| Autores: | , , , , , , , |
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| Tipo de recurso: | artículo |
| Estado: | Versión publicada |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2011 |
| País: | Brasil |
| Institución: | Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV) |
| Repositorio: | LOCUS Repositório Institucional da UFV |
| Idioma: | inglés |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:locus.ufv.br:123456789/14660 |
| Acceso en línea: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1516-35982012000400010 http://www.locus.ufv.br/handle/123456789/14660 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palabra clave: | Brachiaria decumbens Grazing Sward structure Tiller |
| Sumario: | This study was conducted to evaluate the defoliation patterns on B. decumbens cv. Basilisk (signalgrass) tiller as a function of influence of feces deposited naturally by cattle. The signalgrass was managed with an average height of 25 cm, under continuous stocking and variable stocking rate. Interval and intensity of defoliation, grazing efficiency and forage loss were evaluated in two sites on pasture - one close and the other distant from feces. The completely randomized block design with three replications was adopted. The defoliation rate of the pasture site close to feces was 40% lower than at that distant from feces. This response pattern was similar to defoliation intensity of leaf blade. The leaf blade of the tiller close to feces also achieved lower de foliation (1.64) than that in the tiller distant from feces (3.97). The relative number of grazed leaf per tiller in the tillers distant from feces was approximately 185% higher than those close to feces. The grazing efficiency was lower in the local close to feces compared with that distant, unlike forage loss. The natural deposition of feces by cattle modifies the grazing and use patterns of B. decumbens under continuous stocking. |
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