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Time to move beef cattle to a new paddock: forage quality and grazing behaviour

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2019

F. C. Leite De Oliveira ,
J. M. D. Sanchez ,
J. M. B. Vendramini ,
C. G. Lima ,
P. H. C. Luz ,
C. O. Rocha ,
L. E. T. Pereira Open the ORCID record for L. E. T. Pereira [Opens in a new window]  and
V. R. Herling
F. C. Leite De Oliveira
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering (FZEA/USP), Pirassununga, 13635-900 SP, Brazil
J. M. D. Sanchez
Affiliation:
Range Cattle Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Ona, 33865 FL, USA
J. M. B. Vendramini
Affiliation:
Range Cattle Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Ona, 33865 FL, USA
C. G. Lima
Affiliation:
Department of Basic Sciences, FZEA/USP, Pirassununga, 13635-900 SP, Brazil
P. H. C. Luz
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering (FZEA/USP), Pirassununga, 13635-900 SP, Brazil
C. O. Rocha
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering (FZEA/USP), Pirassununga, 13635-900 SP, Brazil
L. E. T. Pereira
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering (FZEA/USP), Pirassununga, 13635-900 SP, Brazil
V. R. Herling*
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering (FZEA/USP), Pirassununga, 13635-900 SP, Brazil
*
Author for correspondence: V. R. Herling, E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Differences in forage nutritive value between morning and afternoon are related to patterns of dehydration and carbohydrate accumulation throughout the day. In this way, management strategies that maximize grazing time during the afternoon could increase forage nutritive value and consequently nutrient intake. The aim of the current experiment was to evaluate the effect of the time of day (06.00 h [designated AM] or 15.00 h [PM]) that cattle are moved to a new paddock on forage nutritive value, grazing behaviour and animal performance of beef cattle on rotationally stocked Marandu palisadegrass (Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu Syn. Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu) pastures. A spring and summer study was conducted in Pirassununga, SP, Brazil from October 2012 to March 2013 (182 days). Treatments were distributed in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Herbage mass, morphological composition, herbage allowance and stocking rates were similar between treatments during spring and summer. Moving animals to a new paddock, regardless of the time of day – 06.00 h (AM) or 15.00 h (PM) – stimulated grazing, modifying the distribution of meals throughout the day. However, compensatory mechanisms among grazing time, bite rate and forage nutritive value throughout the day operated in order to generate similar performance between animals offered a new paddock in the morning or in the afternoon.

Keywords

CarbohydratesforageMaranduperformanceUrochloa brizantha
Type
Animal Research Paper
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 156 , Issue 10 , December 2018 , pp. 1241 - 1250
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2019 

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