Ingestive behavior, performance and forage intake by beef heifers on tropical pasture systems

Abstract

-The experiment was carried out to evaluate forage intake, performance and ingestive behavior of beef heifers. Productive, structural and chemical characteristics of the pasture were also evaluated. The experimental design was completely randomized in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement, with three pasture systems (Alexandergrass [Urochloa plantaginea Link.] with and without supplement to heifers and Coastcross [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.]) and two phenological stages: vegetative and flowering. The grazing method was put-and-take stocking. Grazing, ruminating and idle activities, feeding stations, displacement patterns, bite mass and bite rate were evaluated. The forage intake was estimated using chromic oxide as an indicator of fecal output. The heifers modified the use of feeding stations and displacement patterns between phenological stages and pasture systems. Heifers consumed more forage in the vegetative stage (2.81% of body weight in dry matter) than in the flowering stage (1.92% of body weight in dry matter). Average daily gain, body condition and stocking rate were similar for heifers in the evaluated systems. Beef heifers receiving protein supplement on Alexandergrass pasture consumed more forage than heifers fed Coastcross exclusively. Regardless of the species, no difference was observed when the heifers were exclusively on pasture. Pasture systems on Alexandergrass or Coastcross provide suitable nutrient intake for heifers to be mated at 18 months of age.

Effect of supplementation frequency in feeding behavior, displacement patterns and forage intake of beef heifers

“…The values of forage mass, sward height, and forage allowance in this study were lower than those observed by Costa et al (2011), Souza et al (2012) and Oliveira Neto et al (2013 using the same forage. However, the heifers in these studies gained from 0.483 to 0.766 kg BW daily, which is comparable with the 0.732 kg day -1 gained by heifers exclusively grazing in our study, showing that the scale of variation of values for daily weight gain is small in response to different canopy components and the same animal performance is achieved with different sward managements.…”

“…The content of neutral detergent fiber is within the range found in the literature for tropical pastures, which is reported to be between 53.2% (SOUZA et al, 2011) and 71.5% (OLIVEIRA NETO et al, 2013), and is above the critical limit of 55-60% of NDF ( VAN SOEST, 1994), which may cause a smaller cell wall degradation in the rumen and a lower rate of passage through the gastrointestinal tract.…”

Ingestive behavior of heifers in Alexandergrass pasture receiving different amounts of oat grain as supplement

“…A greater proportion of leaf blades allows supplemented as well as non-supplemented heifers to remain for less time in each feeding station and perform larger displacements. Oliveira Neto et al (2013) observed that lower leaf blade allowances led heifers to increase selection time in the feeding station and decrease displacement.…”

Canopy structure, ingestive behavior and displacement patterns of beef heifers grazing warm-season pastures

“…The experiments were carried out between 2001 and 2010 and the most individual results can be found as scientific papers (Montagner et al, 2008;2009;Costa et al, 2011;Souza et al, 2011;2012;Oliveira Neto et al, 2013). The rearing of beef heifers was evaluated in Pearl millet (Penisetum americanum (L.) Leeke), Alexandergrass (Urochloa plantaginea (Link.)…”