Pasture quality of Panicum maximum cv. Tanzania subjected to different rest periods for milk production

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of two defoliation intervals on the morphological characteristics of the experimental group. Chemical composition characteristics of a Tanzania grass pasture (Panicum maximum) and the performance of crossbred cows on intermittent grazing were examined. The digestibility of the dry matter, the digestibility of the organic matter fibrous, the voluntary dry matter intake and the voluntary intake of the organic matter fibrous were also determined. Milk production of cows was obtained in two daily milks. The levels of fat, protein, lactose, liquid energy and total milk solids were also quantified. The treatments consisted of evaluations of two pasture management strategies: 95% interception of photosynthetically active radiation and pasture managed with 30 days of defoliation interval. The study thus revealed that management causes differences in the chemical composition of Tanzania grass, but does not allow individual productive increases. Management based on IL 95% leads to higher milk production per unit area.