INSECT RICHNESS IN DUNG PATCHES OF CATTLE RAISED IN TWO LIVESTOCK SYSTEMS

The negative impact of livestock breeding on the environment has been mitigated through the combination of pastures and trees, characterizing the silvopastoral systems (SPS), an alternative to conventional pasture systems (CPS). The SPS provides environmental services, particularly the recovery of degraded areas and carbon sequestration. Furthermore, the complexity of the SPS can improve other environmental services, for example, enhance biodiversity and reduce pests through biological control. However, it is not clear the relationship between microclimate, pasture, trees, cattle, and invertebrate present in this environment. The purpose of this research was to characterize the macrofauna and determine the richness and abundance of invertebrates associated with dung patches of cattle raised in SPS and CPS pasture systems during two years in Brazil. As a result, we verified that the presence of trees in pastures alters the environment, notably through the reduction of solar radiation; decreases the wind speeds; attenuates the air and soil temperature, and diversifies the food supply, with the promotion of beneficial insect richness in dung patches of cattle. The diversity index of invertebrate fauna associated with dung patches in the SPS and CPS were respectively, 1.9 and 1.3. Besides that, the SPS contributed to higher densities of pupal parasitoids insects represented by Aphaereta sp. and Spalangia sp., the most important cattle ectoparasite controllers. In this way, we concluded that the integrated pasture systems are an essential tool for biodiversity improvement, especially the beneficial insects living in dung patches, which can contribute to reducing cattle ectoparasite infestations

Produtividade e características biométricas do capim-braquiária em sistema silvipastoril

The objective of this work was to evaluate the productivity and biometric characteristics of signal grass (Urochloa decumbens) under grazing, in a silvopastural system. A system with native trees of commercial interest, planted in a set of rows with north-south orientation, with 17 m spacing was evaluated. A randomized complete block design with four replicates was carried out in a split-plot arrangement, with forage grass regrowth cycles evaluated in the plots and distances from trees in the subplots. Seven regrowth cycles were evaluated at four distances of the set of tree rows: at 2 and 6 m from trees at east, and at 2 and 6 m from trees at west. Dry matter productivity, leaf area index (LAI), specific leaf area (SLA), and plant height were measured. Forage productivity in the first two cycles and LAI in the second and third cycles reduced with shading levels higher than 39 and 40%, respectively. However, plant height increased with shadings greater than 53%, in the first four cycles, and SLA with shadings greater than 66%, in the first three cycles.O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a produtividade e as características biométricas do capim-braquiária (Urochloa decumbens) sob pastejo, em sistema silvipastoril. Avaliou-se um sistema com árvores nativas de interesse comercial, plantadas em renques, no sentido norte-sul, espaçados por 17 m. Utilizou-se o delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso, com quatro repetições e parcelas subdivididas, tendo-se avaliado o ciclo de rebrota da forragem nas parcelas, e a distância desta em relação aos renques, nas subparcelas. Sete ciclos de rebrota foram avaliados, em quatro distâncias dos renques: a 2 e a 6 m do renque leste, e a 2 e a 6 m do renque oeste. Quantificou-se a produtividade de matéria seca, o índice de área foliar (IAF), a área foliar específica (AFE) e a altura das plantas. A produtividade de forragem, nos dois primeiros ciclos, e o IAF, no segundo e no terceiro ciclo, diminuiram com níveis de sombra acima de 39 e 40%, respectivamente. Já a altura de plantas aumentou com sombreamentos superiores a 53%, nos quatro primeiros ciclos; o que também ocorreu com a AFE, com sombreamento superior a 66%, nos três primeiros ciclos

Phosphate supplementation withdrawal during dry season for Nelore range cows

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o desempenho reprodutivo de vacas Nelore em pastos de capim-marandu, após a retirada do fosfato bicálcico da mistura mineral, na estação seca. Sessenta matrizes receberam, durante seis anos, mistura mineral completa na estação chuvosa. Na estação seca, os tratamentos consistiram de: mistura mineral completa (MMC); MMC sem fosfato bicálcico (MM); e MM + concentrado. As pastagens foram manejadas de forma a não limitar a disponibilidade de matéria seca. A retirada do fosfato bicálcico do suplemento mineral, durante a estação seca, não prejudicou o desempenho reprodutivo de vacas, avaliado pela taxa de prenhez, intervalo de partos e retorno da atividade cíclica ovariana. Vacas que receberam concentrado na estação seca pariram em melhor condição corporal; vacas primíparas arraçoadas apresentaram menor número de dias vazios do que as vacas primíparas dos demais tratamentos. A retirada do fosfato bicálcico suplementar, fonte de fósforo e cálcio, na estação seca, não prejudica o desempenho de vacas multíparas em pastejo de capim-marandu.The objective of this work was to evaluate the reproductive performance of Nelore cows at 'Marandu' palisade grass paddocks, after dicalcium phosphate withdrawal from the mineral supplement in the dry season. Sixty breeding cows received, during six years, a complete mineral mixture in the wet season. In the dry season, the treatments consisted of: a complete mineral mixture (MMC); MMC without dicalcium phosphate (MM); and MM plus a concentrate. Pastures were managed in order to allow for adequate dry matter availability. The removal of dicalcium phosphate from the mineral supplement, during the dry season, did not affect the animal reproduction performance which was evaluated as pregnancy rates, delivery intervals and return of oestrous cycles. Cows receiving concentrate in the dry season had higher body score at delivery; primiparous cows which fed concentrate showed a lower number of days open, in comparison to the primiparous ones of the other treatments. Dicalcium phosphate withdrawal from the mineral supplement, source of phosphorus and calcium, during the dry season, does not affect the reproductive performance of multiparous range cows grazing 'Marandu' palisade grass

REDUCING COMPETITION IN AGROFORESTRY BY PRUNING NATIVE TREES

ABSTRACT The degree to which pruning helps reestablish balance in agroforestry was assessed in a system established in São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil, in 2008. Seven native tree species were planted at a density of 600 trees/ha in five strips of three rows each, and annual crops were cultivated in the 17-m crop strips between the tree strips. Competition was established after 35 months, decreasing the aboveground biomass production of corn planted close to the trees. An assessment of black oats in the dry season following tree pruning showed that the proximity of trees caused reductions in plant and panicle density, aboveground biomass production, number of grains per panicle and grain weight. Because pruning was not sufficient to maintain crop yields, tree thinning is recommended in order to minimize competition and restore conditions for adequate crop production

Efeito do fósforo suplementar sobre o desempenho reprodutivo de vacas de corte em pastagem de Brachiaria humidicola

The objective of this experiment was to observe and quantify the effect of two mineral mixtures, as free-choice feeding, one without (M) and other with phosphorus supplement (MP), on the productive and reproductive performance of Nellore beef cows grazing Brachiaria humidicola. This work was conducted at the Fazenda Modelo (Embrapa-Centro Nacional de Pesquisa de Gado de Corte), located in Terenos, MS, Brazil, in two phases, 1st from 1988/92 and 2nd from 1992/94. During the 2nd phase, stocking rate, for the dry period, and suckling days were reduced (from 1.0 to 0.5 cows/ha and 210 to 90 days, respectively). Mineral intake (M = 76 and MP = 112 g/had/day), forage phosphorus level (wet season = 0.16%; dry season = 0.11%), liveweight (1st phase: M = 363±3.3 and MP = 371±3.8 kg; 2nd phase: M = 407±5.7 and MP = 417±6.5 kg), birth percentage (1st phase: M = 67±3.3 and MP = 66±3.5; 2nd phase: M = 75±6.3 and MP = 80±5.7) and weaning of calves (1st phase: M = 86±5.0 and MP = 91±5.3; 2nd phase: M = 55±6.4 and MP = 67±5.7) were measured. Beef cattle is not responsive to P supplementation.O objetivo deste experimento foi observar e quantificar o efeito de duas misturas minerais (ad libitum), uma sem (M) e outra com fósforo suplementar (MP), sobre o desempenho produtivo e reprodutivo de vacas de cria neloradas em pastejo de Brachiaria humidicola. O trabalho foi realizado na Fazenda Modelo (Embrapa-Centro Nacional de Pesquisa de Gado de Corte), localizada em Terenos, MS, em duas fases, a primeira, em 1988/92, e a segunda, em 1992/94. Na segunda fase, reduziu-se a carga animal durante a seca e os dias de amamentação (de 1,0 para 0,5 vacas/ha e de 210 para 90 dias, respectivamente). Foram realizadas medidas de consumo da mistura mineral (M = 76 e MP = 112 g/cab./dia); teor médio de fósforo na forrageira (época das chuvas = 0,16%, época seca = 0,11%); peso vivo (primeira fase: M = 363±3,3 e MP = 371±3,8 kg; segunda fase: M = 407±5,7 e MP = 417±6,5 kg); taxa de natalidade (primeira fase: M = 67±3,3 e MP = 66±3,5%; segunda fase: M = 74±6,3 e MP = 80±5,7%) e bezerros desmamados (primeira fase: M = 86±5,0 e MP = 91±5,3; segunda fase: M = 55±6,4 e MP = 67±5,7). As vacas de cria não responderam ao fósforo suplementar