<b>Grazing behavior and spatial distribution of feces of Young bulls in silvopastoral systems and Marandu monoculture in the Pre-Amazon region

Abstract

ABSTRACT.The objective was to evaluate the grazing behavior and the spatial distribution of feces of F1 young bulls from the cross between Nellore and Guzera on pastures of Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu in silvopastoral systems composed of babassu palm (Attalea speciosa) and Marandu monoculture in the Pre-Amazon region of the state of Maranhão. Animals were evaluated in four systems consisting of 0, 80, 131, 160 palms ha -1 , characterizing monoculture (mono), low density of palm trees (LD), medium density of palm trees (MD) and high density of palm trees (HD) during the rainy (RE) and dry (DE) periods. Five animals (repetitions) were used in each system, with 231-303 days of age and 180±15 kg body weight. Determinations of behavioral patterns were made by instant sampling, at 10 min intervals. In each system, we demarcated 50 squares of 100 m 2 , which served as useful area to evaluate the dispersion of feces. The grazing behavior was influenced by the sward structure, which, in turn, was influenced by densities of palm trees, due to shading. The distribution of feces was affected by both the presence of babassu plantations and periods. The silvopastoral systems made the environment more pleasant to animals, since activities considered more stressful and avoided during the daytime were performed by animals of these environments, unlike animals in the monoculture system. Keywords: babassu, sward structure, dispersal, idle, palm trees, rumination.Comportamento de pastejo e distribuição espacial de fezes de tourinhos em sistemas silvipastoris e monocultura de capim-Marandu na região pré-amazônica RESUMO. Objetivou-se avaliar o comportamento de pastejo e a distribuição espacial de fezes de tourinhos F1 do cruzamento de Nelore com Guzerá em pastagens de Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu em sistemas silvipastoris compostos por palmeiras de babaçu (Attalea speciosa) e em monocultivo de capim-Marandu na região pré-amazônica maranhense. Os animais foram avaliados em quatro sistemas, sendo 0, 80, 131, 160 palmeiras ha -1 , caracterizando monocultura (mono), baixa densidade de palmeiras (BDP), média densidade de palmeiras (MDP) e alta densidade de palmeiras (ADP), respectivamente, durante os períodos chuvoso (PC) e seco (PS). Foram utilizados cinco animais (repetições) em cada sistema, os animais tinham entre 231 e 303 dias de vida e peso vivo de 180±15 kg. As medidas dos padrões comportamentais foram realizadas por colheita instantânea, a intervalos de 10 min. Em cada sistema foram demarcados 50 quadrados de 100 m 2 , que serviram como área útil para avaliar a dispersão das fezes. Observou-se que o comportamento de pastejo foi influenciado pela estrutura do pasto, que por sua vez foi influenciado pelas densidades de palmeiras pelo sombreamento e a distribuição das fezes foi influenciada tanto pela presença dos babaçuais quanto pelos períodos avaliados. Os sistemas silvipastoris tornaram o ambiente mais agradável aos animais, visto que as atividades consideradas mais estressantes e que são evitadas durante o dia foram reali...

Thermal comfort and grazing behavior of Girolando heifers in integrated crop-livestock (ICL) and crop-livestock-forest (ICLF) systems

“…This observation is probably a consequence of the positive effect of the tree shading on grazing activity. At 7:00h, shading caused better thermal comfort by limiting direct exposure to solar radiation thereby enabling the heifers to spend more time grazing (Araújo et al, 2017). The greater grazing time spent at 22:00h in the ICLF system could be as a result of the greater time spent in rumination at 18:00h (Figure 4), which permitted the heifers to empty their rumen and return to grazing activity at 22:00h.…”

Gas exchanges, chemical composition and productive characteristics of tropical grasses deferred I: cultivars BRS Massai and BRS Tamani

“…Pastures are the basis for sustaining livestock activity in tropical regions. Despite the low cost of grazing production, this is strongly affected by the statehood of production, which limits the performance of herds in certain periods of the year, such as in the semiarid region of northeastern Brazil (ARAÚJO et al, 2017). In these regions, the maximum forage production, both in quantity and quality, occurs during the period in which the highest rainfall indices are concentrated, being reduced in the dry season, mainly due to drought (MARANHÃO et al, 2019).…”

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