New forage cultivars require defoliation studies for recommending proper grazing management. Our objective was to characterize herbage accumulation (HA), plantpart composition and nutritive value of guineagrass [Megathyrsus maximus (Jacq.) B. K. Simon & S. W. L. Jacobs] rotationally stocked under two grazing intensities. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with three replicates of a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of two guineagrass cultivars ('BRS Quênia' and 'BRS Tamani') and two grazing intensities. Heavy (HGI) and lax (LGI) grazing intensities were imposed as post-grazing stubble heights: 15 and 25 cm for Tamani, and 20 and 35 cm for Quênia, respectively. The experimental period was from -grazing HM was sampled as two strata above the stubble height, each comprising 50% of the sampled height (upper and lower stratum). Total herbage accumulation was similar across years, cultivars, and intensities (16,810 kg DM ha −1 ). Quênia and Tamani had the greatest HA during summer. The leaf proportion was least in the HGI pastures. Under HGI, the lower stratum of both cultivars had the greatest stem proportion and the least nutritive value. The greatest herbage CP concentration and the least NDF, ADF, iNDF and LIG concentrations occurred in the upper stratum. Based on these results, 35 and 55 cm are recommended as target heights for initiation of grazing, and 25 and 35 cm as post-grazing stubble heights for Tamani and Quênia, respectively.

The main system for feeding cattle in Brazil is the forage-based. It happens due to low cost and high potential of forage production, which can be widely explored in a tropical climate country. Although, the nutritive value of the forage oscillates according to the grazing management. The success in production is related to the three main stages: herbage growth, consumption by grazing animals and conversion into animal product, maximizing profitability while providing sustainability. Thus, the objective with this literature review is to address detailed information on how grazing management can affect qualitative indicators of forage plants.

Forage species diversification reduces risk associated with forage–livestock production. In the Amazon biome, an alternative is needed to ‘Marandu’ palisadegrass [Urochloa brizantha (Hochst. ex A. Rich.) R.D. Webster] because of Marandu death syndrome. Our objective was to compare herbage accumulation (HA), canopy characteristics, and nutritive value of Marandu with two alternative grasses, ‘Guará’ (Paspalum regnellii Mez) and ‘Tupi’ [Urochloa humidicola (Rendle) Morrone & Zuloaga]. During 2 yr, grasses were clipped to a 12‐cm stubble height every 28 (rainy season) or 42 d (dry season). Annual HA did not differ across years for Guará (13.7 Mg dry matter [DM] ha−1) and Tupi (12.2 Mg DM ha−1); however, Marandu HA was 30% less in the second than the first year. Marandu had greatest annual HA in the first year (15.5 Mg DM ha−1), and Guará was superior to the other grasses in the second year (13.5 Mg DM ha−1). Tupi had the least leaf proportion among grasses in both rainy and dry seasons, and its leaf proportion was greater in the dry than rainy season (715 vs. 610 g kg−1). Greatest stem proportion was observed in Tupi and the least stubble mass occurred in Guará (2000 kg DM ha−1). When differences in crude protein occurred, Tupi concentrations (80–130 g kg−1) were less than either Guará (97–157 g kg−1) or Marandu (81–139 g kg−1). Overall, Tupi and Guará HA and nutritive value support their recommendation as alternatives to Marandu monoculture in Amazon forage‐based livestock systems.

Resumo O capim Ipyporã, um híbrido interespecífico de Brachiaria, foi desenvolvido através do cruzamento de um genótipo de Brachiaria ruziziensis (sin. Urochloa ruziziensis) e um acesso de Brachiaria brizantha (sin. Urochloa brizantha), que possuem diferentes exigências de nitrogênio. O objetivo com este trabalho foi verificar a necessidade de nitrogênio do híbrido interespecífico de Brachiaria hibrida cv. Ipyporã. O experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação, em delineamento de blocos ao acaso, com doze tratamentos e quatro repetições. Os tratamentos corresponderam a um fatorial 4x3, sendo quatro doses de nitrogênio (0, 100, 200 e 300 mg/dm 3 ) e três gramíneas forrageiras (B. hibrida cv. BRS Ipyporã, B. humidicola cv. Llanero e Panicum maximum cv. Zuri). Cada parcela experimental foi constituída por vaso de 3 dm³ com três plantas. Foram realizados três cortes de avaliação. A B. hibrida Ipyporã obteve maior resposta à adubação nitrogenada para número de perfilhos e de folhas em relação aos demais capins. Entretanto, para a massa seca total, observou-se que a B. hibrida foi menos responsiva ao nitrogênio que o capim P. maximum (alta exigência) e mais responsivo que B. humidicola (baixa exigência), o que mostra que esse híbrido é uma forrageira com média demanda em nitrogênio. Palavras -chave adubação nitrogenada, teste de identidade de modelos, Urochloa híbrida Abst ractIpyporã grass, a Brachiaria interspecific hybrid was developed by crossing a genotype of Brachiaria ruziziensis (syn. Urochloa ruziziensis) and an access of Brachiaria brizantha (syn. Urochloa brizantha), which have different nitrogen requirements.Therefore, the objective with work was to verify the nitrogen requirement of the interspecific hybrid of Brachiaria hybrid cv.Ipyporã. Experiment was carried out in a greenhouse in a randomized block design, with twelve treatments and four replications. Treatments consisted of a 4 x 3 factorial arrangement, with four nitrogen doses (0; 100; 200 and 300 mg/dm³) and three forages (Brachiaria hybrid cv. BRS Ipyporã, Brachiaria humidicola cv. Llanero and Panicum maximum cv. Zuri). Each experimental plot consisted of a 3 dm³ pot with three plants. Three evaluation harvest were done. B. hybrid had greater response to nitrogen fertilization for number of tillers and leaves than the other forages. However, for the total dry mass, B. hybrid was less responsive to nitrogen than P. maximum grass (high demand) and more responsive than B. humidicola (low demand), which shows that this hybrid has medium nitrogen requirement.