Production and chemical composition of Tifton 85 (Cynodon dactylon L. Pers) under continuous grazing during winter

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the production and quality of structural components of Tifton 85 pasture, in the period from May to September 2010, submitted to the grazing. The experiment was carried out at Luiziana, Northwest region of Paraná State. It was evaluated the total production of forage mass, leaf blades, stems and dead material, and the leaf:stem ratio. The chemical-bromatological composition was determined through analysis of neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), crude protein (CP), and estimated valuesof total digestible nutrients (TDN) and dry matter digestibility (DMD). Stocking rate and forage allowance were evaluated. It was verified a decrease in forage mass, leaves blades, stems and dead material, and therefore decreased the supply ranging from 11.07 to 13.64 MS/100kg kgbody weight. The leaf blades showed a decrease in quality with the advance of trial periods due to their NDF and CP content. The other constituents did not differ in the period from March to September, showing that grazing Tifton 85 maintains its high nutritional values even in critical periods of the year, only decreasing their productivity.