Diurnal behavior of dairy cows on alfalfa pastures supplemented with corn silage and concentrate

The diurnal ingestive behavior of dairy cows on alfalfa pastures supplemented with corn silage and concentrate was evaluated. Sixteen Holstein dairy cows in mid-lactation were used in a randomized block design. The treatments were partial replacement of corn silage for limited alfalfa grazing time (LGT) or unlimited grazing time (UGT). Rotational alfalfa grazing was used and the amount of concentrate fed was the same in both treatments. Behavioral activities observed were time spent grazing, rumination and idleness, during four days, from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM. From 2:00 to 5:00 PM grazing was intermittent and short-lasting on UGT, whereas on LGT grazing activity was longer than UGT in the morning and at the end of the afternoon. Restriction in available grazing time clearly influenced the distribution of time spent with grazing, rumination and idleness throughout the day. However, this effect was not observed in the total time spent in these activities.Avaliou-se o comportamento ingestivo de vacas leiteiras com acesso restrito ou irrestrito a uma pastagem de alfafa suplementada com silagem de milho e concentrado. Utilizaram-se 16 vacas da raça Holandesa, em estádio médio de lactação, em delineamento em blocos ao acaso. Os tratamentos foram: silagem de milho substituída parcialmente por pastejo restrito ou irrestrito de alfafa. As vacas foram manejadas em sistema de pastejo rotacionado e a quantidade de concentrado foi igual em ambos os tratamentos. As atividades comportamentais observadas foram pastejo, ruminação e ócio, das oito às 19 horas, em quatro ocasiões. No pastejo irrestrito, observou-se que, nos horários entre 14 e 17 horas, o pastejo foi intermitente e de curta duração, enquanto no pastejo restrito a atividade de pastejo foi mais prolongada durante a manhã e no final da tarde. A restrição no tempo disponível para pastejo da alfafa influenciou marcadamente a distribuição, no decorrer do dia, do tempo gasto em pastejo, da ruminação e do ócio. Entretanto, não se observou este efeito no tempo total gasto nestas atividades.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Universidade Federal de Santa CatarinaFMUEmbrapa Pecuária SudesteUniversidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho FMVZUniversidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho FMV

Canopy characteristics and behavior of Nellore heifers in Brachiaria brizantha pastures under different grazing heights at a continuous stocking rate

The objective of this study was to evaluate the Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu canopy structure maintained at different grazing heights under a continuous stocking rate and with a dietary supplementation strategy for the animals during the rainy season. This study also intended to observe the relationships of these variables with the grazing behaviors of the heifers. The effects of three canopy heights (15, 25 and 35 cm) were evaluated in association with three types of supplements: one mineral and two protein/energy supplements, the first with a high rumen degradable protein and energy and the others with a low ratio. Both the protein/energy supplements were provided at 0.3% of body weight/day. The experimental design was completely randomized, with two replications and repeated measures, and took place during the period from January to April 2008. The supplementation strategies did not affect any variable related to the canopy structure. Total and green herbage masses and the ratio of green/dead material increased with canopy height. The leaf/stem ratio was higher in the lowest canopy height: 15 cm. Changes in the canopy structure caused variations in the grazing behavior of the animals. Animals maintained in the 15-cm-tall pasture grazed for a longer time, increasing the time for each meal, but the number of meals was lower than that of the animals grazing within the 35-cm-tall pasture. The grazing time of animals receiving the energy/protein supplement was lower only in the period of the day during which it was supplied. Canopy structure is affected by sward height, and changes animal behavior. Supplementation does not affect the canopy structure of the pastures with similar heights

Desempenho animal, produção de forragem e características estruturais dos capins marandu e xaraés submetidos a intensidades de pastejo Animal performance, forage yield and structural characteristics in the palisadegrass cvs. marandu and xaraés submitted to grazing intensities

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.<br>The objectives were to evaluate the forage yield, the structural characteristics, the herbage intake, the grazing behavior and beef cattle performance in the palisadegrass cvs. Marandu and Xaraés pastures submitted to three grazing intensities. The experiment was carried out at Embrapa Gado de Corte. The experimental period was from October 2005 to June 2006. The area was of 8 ha, divided in 12 paddocks of 0.67 ha. Two cultivars of palisadegrass, Marandu and Xaraés, and three grazing intensities, 15, 30, and 45 cm of sward height were evaluated. The experimental design was randomized block in a split plot arrangement and two replications. The main plot was constituted by cultivars and the subplot by the grazing intensities. The grazing was continuously stocking with variable stocking rate. Each paddock was grazed by three steers and regulating animals were utilized to adjust the sward heights. The sward heights were monitored twice per week. The grass was sampled each 28 days to estimate the herbage yield, herbage accumulation rate, pasture structural characteristics, and nutritive value. Animals were weighed each 28 days. The dry matter intake was estimated in the summer and the autumn, and the grazing behavior in the summer. Herbage accumulation and average daily gain decreased as the grazing intensities increased for both palisadegrass cvs. Xaraés and Marandu. The forage intake for the animals in xaraés grass pasture was limited by the variation in the sward structure. Based on the sward structural characteristics, forage intake and the productivity, these grasses require differentiated management. Marandu grass must be managed between 25 and 40 cm of height and xaraés grass at 40 cm