-The objective of this research was to estimate three pasture-based systems mixed with elephantgrass + spontaneous growth species, annual ryegrass, for pasture-based system 1; elephantgrass + spontaneous growth species + forage peanut, for pasture-based system 2; and elephantgrass + spontaneous growth species + annual ryegrass + red clover, for pasturebased system 3. Elephantgrass was planted in rows 4 m apart from each other. During the cool-season, annual ryegrass was sown in the alleys between the rows of elephantgrass; forage peanut and red clover were sown in the alleys between the elephantgrass according to the respective treatment. The experimental design was totally randomized in the three treatments (pasture-based systems), two replicates (paddocks) in completely split-plot time (grazing cycles). Holstein cows receiving 5.5 kg-daily complementary concentrate feed were used in the evaluation. Pre-grazing forage mass, botanical composition and stocking rate were evaluated. Samples of simulated grazing were collected to analyze organic matter (OM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), crude protein (CP) and organic matter in situ digestibility (OMISD). Nine grazing cycles were performed during the experimental period (341 days). The average dry matter values for pre-grazing and stocking rate were 3.34; 3.46; 3.79 t/ha, and 3.28; 3.34; 3.60 AU/ha for each respective pasture-based system. Similar results were observed between the pasture-based systems for OM, NDF, CP and OMISD. Considering forage mass, stocking rate and nutritive value, the pasturebased system intercropped with forage legumes presented better performance.

The objective of this research was to evaluate of tree pasture-based systems (PS) with elephantgrass (EG)

RESUMO O objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar três sistemas forrageiros (SF) com capim elefante (CE) + azevém (AZ) + espécies de crescimento espontâneo (ECE); CE + AZ + ECE + amendoim forrageiro (AM); e CE + AZ + ECE + trevo vermelho (TV ABSTRACT The objective of this research was to evaluate of three grazing systems (GS) with elephant grass (EG), Italian ryegrass (IR) + spontaneous growing species (SGS); EG + IR + SGS + forage peanut (FP); and EG + IR + SGS + red clover (RC), during the winter and summer periods in rotational grazing

With this study, we aimed at evaluating the nutritional value and chemical composition of forage legume intercropping with elephant grass (EG) + spontaneous growth species (SGS) + annual ryegrass (AR) + peanut forage (PF), as treatment T1; and EG + SGS + AR + red clover (RD), as T2. The EG was planted in 4m spaced rows. The annual ryegrass was planted between the EG rows during the cool season; the RC was sowed and the PF was preserved. The experiment was performed between October 2009 and April 2010, with six grazing cycles. Samples of forage legume was collected, under simulated the grazing, to determine the levels of organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), organic matter in situ digestibility (OMISD), total phenols (TF), total tannins (TT), and condensed tannins (CT). The mean values of OM, CP,

-In this article we research the influence of different sources of carbohydrates (corn, soybean hulls or wheat bran) upon the digestive behavior of 24 confined castrated steers with an initial average age and weight of 20 months and 330 kg born from the cross between Charolais and Nellore. The diet was composed of 40% sorghum silage and 60% concentrate. The time spent on total ruminating (an average of 454.6 min/day) was not influenced by the source of carbohydrate. The animals from the wheat bran treatment spent less time idle (718 min) in relation to those on the corn and soybean hulls treatments, which did not differ between themselves (an average of 792 min/day). The steers from the wheat bran treatment remained less time feeding (184 min/day) compared with those fed the other treatments, whose average time of permanence in this activity was 214 minutes per day. The other studied variables did not present a significant difference between the treatments. Inclusion of wheat bran in the diet of the confined steers results in less spent time idle, while steers feeding on soybean hulls spend less time feeding. The use of corn, soybean hulls, or wheat bran in the diet of the confined steers does not affect the total cudding time.