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Limpograss [Hemarthria altissima (Poir.) Stapf and C. E. Hubb.] has been gaining ground in beef cattle production as a stockpiling option. This study evaluated canopy characteristics of stockpiled pastures of limpograss cultivar Floralta over two cool seasons. Treatments included canopy layers (upper third, middle, lower third) and plant fractions (leaf and stem) arranged in a randomized split block design. There were 12 paddocks (blocks) with 1.2 ha each. Response variables included forage mass, canopy height and density, proportion of leaf and stem, and leaf and stem nutritive value within each layer. Forage mass fluctuated throughout the season, varying from 4,410 kg dry matter (DM) ha -1 in December to 7,220 kg DM ha -1 in October.Canopy bulk density was greater in February compared with November and December (290 vs. 145 kg ha -1 cm -1 ), and similar to October and January (200 kg ha -1 cm -1 , on average). The lower canopy layer had the greatest proportion of stem whereas the upper layer had greatest proportion of leaves. Leaf had greater in vitro digestible organic matter (IVDOM) (700 g kg -1 ) compared with stem (600 g kg -1 ). Leaf/stem ratio was greater in the upper layer (1.12), but similar between the middle and lower layers (0.4, on average). Leaf crude protein (CP) was greater than stem CP 70 vs. 20 g kg -1 ), with no differences between stem CP across evaluation dates. Stockpiled limpograss maintained leaf and stem digestibility and can be used as an alternative to reduce feeding costs in North Florida during the cool season. INTRODUCTIONSeasonality in forage production is a major challenge to develop pasture-based cattle production systems around the world. In central and southern Florida, limitation in forage

Cactus is an important fodder in tropical semiarid, but recent insect pressure has devastated cactus crops. Breeding programs are developing cactus varieties resistant to cochineal scale (Dactylopius opuntiae Cockerell). The cactus V‐19 (Opuntia larreyi F.A.C. Weber ex J. M. Coult.) has demonstrated resistance to cochineal scale, however, no breeding effort has been attempted with this species. This study characterized the resistance of cactus V‐19 progenies to cochineal scale. Morphological, productive, and nutritive value variables were evaluated in 11 genotypes of cactus V‐19, in which 10 (named as P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6, P7, P8, P9, and P10) were progenies resulted from open pollination. Two evaluations were carried out from 2015 to 2017, corresponding to first and second harvest years. A randomized complete design with seven replications were used. There was a harvest (year) × progeny interaction (p < .05) across the estimated parameters. In 2017, there was a stronger correlation between morphological traits and productive responses because cactus had faster growth and greater number of cladodes, while in 2015 progenies had greater nutritive value. Progeny P1 improved performance compared with the progenitor and other progenies regarding dry matter (DM) accumulation, in vitro digestible DM, and crude protein with 13.7 Mg DM ha–1 year–1, 848 g kg–1, and 47 g kg–1, respectively. The principal component analysis (PCA) and dendrogram obtained by hierarchical clustering method confirmed that progeny P1 outperformed the other progenies, including the mother plant V‐19. These progenies must be further evaluated to assess their productive responses under different management practices.

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