Forage is the primary feed source for livestock in tropical regions and energy is one of the most important nutrients for ruminant nutrition. The effects of harvest management of Marandu palisade grass (Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu Syn. Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu) on non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) concentrations were evaluated. A plot (Experiment 1) and a greenhouse study (Experiment 2) were conducted in 2013–14. In Experiment 1, treatments were the factorial arrangement of two harvest times and two vertical canopy layers (upper and intermediate), distributed in a completely randomized design with five replicates. In Experiment 2, treatments were the factorial arrangement of six harvest times and two morphological fractions (leaf blade and pseudostem). In both experiments, NSC concentration increased during the day. Upper and intermediate canopy layers had greater NSC concentration at 15.00 than 06.00 h during spring and summer. In addition, the magnitude of NSC increase was greater in the upper than intermediate canopy layer and in spring than summer. Marandu palisade grass shows greater digestibility in the afternoon than morning, representing an opportunity to optimize energy concentration through harvest management.

Effect of on cutting age on morphometric measures, nutritional value and protein fractioning of sauco (Sambucus nigra). Silvopastoral systems are an alternative to improve the interactions taking place in the soilplant-animal system, and to ensure that livestock production can be an ecofriendly solution. Studies suggest that sauco (Sambucus nigra) is a promising forage for livestock in high tropical systems; however, it requires further investigation. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of cutting age on some morphometric characteristics, dry matter yield, the nutritive value, total phenols, condensed tannins and protein fractioning of sauco (Sambucus spp.). The study was conducted in an area of very humid mountain forest. A completely randomized design was used with four cutting ages as treatments. Morphometric measurements were greater at 180 days with a height of 233 cm, tree top diameter of 168 cm, 93 cm long shoot and a biomass of 5360 g.tree -1 . The dry matter yield, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber also increased with cutting age. Protein fractioning results showed that sauco has a highly digestible protein with 31% nonprotein nitrogen and 37% soluble nitrogen as RESUMENLos sistemas silvopastoriles son una alternativa para mejorar las interacciones que se presentan en el sistema suelo-planta-animal, y para lograr que la ganadería sea una solución ecoamigable. Estudios sugieren que el sauco (Sambucus nigra) es una planta forrajera promisoria para los sistemas ganaderos de trópico de altura; sin embargo, se requiere profundizar en su investigación. El objetivo del trabajo fue evaluar el efecto de la edad de corte sobre algunas características morfométricas, la producción de materia seca, la composición bromatológica, los fenoles totales, los taninos condensados y el fraccionamiento de la proteína del sauco (Sambucus spp.). El estudio fue realizado en una zona de bosque muy húme-do montano (BmhM). El diseño experimental fue completamente al azar, con 4 edades de corte como tratamientos. Las medidas morfométricas fueron mayores a los 180 días con altura de 233 cm, diámetro de copa 168 cm, largo de retoño 93 cm y biomasa 5360 g.árbol -1 . La materia seca, la fibra detergente neutro y la fibra detergente ácido también aumentaron con la edad de corte. Los resultados del fraccionamiento de proteína mostraron que el sauco posee una proteína altamente digestible con 31% de nitrógeno no proteíco y * Universidad del Tolima, grupo de investigación en sistemas agroforestales pecuarios, Colombia.

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.