The strategy of pasture lowering before stockpiling modifies the efficiency of sheep grazing in winter
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5433/1679-0359.2024v45n3p899Keywords:
Animal performance, Canopy structure, Forage intake, Marandu grass, Nutritive value.Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine whether the lowering strategies (LSs) of Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu (Marandu grass) before stockpiling would result in better stockpiled pasture structure and sheep performance in winter. The three LSs evaluated were: 1) maintenance of Marandu grass at 15 cm for 5 months before the start of stockpiling (15 cm); 2) maintenance of Marandu grass at 25 cm for 5 months before the start of stockpiling, when the pasture was lowered to 15 cm (25/15 cm); and 3) maintenance of Marandu grass at 35 cm for 5 months before the start of stockpiling, when the pasture was lowered to 18 cm (35/18 cm). Eighteen adult crossbreed sheep (Dorper × Santa Inês) were used, allocated in pairs in nine paddocks. Assessments on animals and pastures were carried out every 45 days during the period of stockpiling for pasture use, with measurements at the beginning (first week), middle (45th day) and end (90th day) of the grazing period. The average daily gain (ADG), intake and chemical composition of samples collected by simulated grazing were measured. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design, with repeated measurements over time. Pastures under 15 cm had a higher percentage of live stems and a lower percentage of dead stems (P<0.10). Forage mass, percentage of live leaves, intake and nutrient digestibility by sheep were not affected by the LS (P>0.10). However, dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) intake and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility were lower in the middle compared to the beginning and end of the grazing period (P<0.10). The grazing time was shorter and the sheep's grazing efficiency was greater on the 35/18 cm pasture than on the 15 and 25/15 cm pastures (P<0.10). Animal performance was not influenced by the LS (P>0.10) but decreased from the beginning to the end of the grazing period. The abrupt lowering of Marandu grass from 35 to 18 cm before deferral resulted in greater grazing efficiency by sheep, characterizing a pastoral environment suitable for grazing in winter.
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