This study aimed to evaluate the effect of tree shading levels on tillers’ morphogenetic and structural traits, besides the herbage accumulation of Tanganyika grass ( Megathyrsus maximus Jacq. cv. Tanganyika). For that, an experiment was carried out from December 2010 to March 2012, under a completely randomized design, with four treatments (shading levels) and five repetitions. Phyllochron (PHY), leaf and stem elongation rates (LER and SER, respectively), number of leaves per tiller (NLT), leaf blade length (LBL), stem length (ST), tiller population density (TPD), leaf (LGR) and stem growth rates (SGR), senescence rate (SR) and herbage accumulation rate (HAR) were assessed. Excepted by the LER and NLT, the shading levels influenced the other morphogenetic variables (P<0.05), positively or negatively. Except in the spring, the TPD linearly increased because of the shading levels (P<0.05). At tiller level, except in the spring, the LBL linearly increased with the shading levels (P<0.05). In general, the SL linearly decreased with the shading levels. Regarding the growth rates, summer II and spring provided greater values, and the lowest one occurred in autumn (P<0.05). The adjustments of both morphogenetic and structural traits ensured the Tanganyika grass a great adaptation to the shaded environment.

This study aimed to evaluate different energy sources in multiple supplements on performance, intake and digestibility of Santa Ines sheep grazing urochloa grass (Urochloa mosambicensis) during the rainy season. The experimental area was divided into seven paddocks of four-ha each, with an average of dry matter (DM) availability of 3213.45 kg/ha. A completely randomized design was carried out, in which there were four treatments, and each treatment was repeated six times. Twenty-four intact lambs (average: 32 kg of body weight) were supplemented with a mineral mixture, the control group (MM), mesquite pod meal (MPM), wheat bran (WB) or sorghum grain (SG) as energy sources. The digestibility of DM and crude protein (CP) in MPM, and WB is higher than in MM and SG groups. The DM digestibility was higher in the WB group; however, there was no difference between the other treatments. Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF) digestibility was similar between supplemented lambs, and it was higher than the MM. The supplementation promoted higher weight gain than in the control group (0.125 vs. 0.61 g/day, respectively; P < 0.001). The supplementation increased the DM, and CP intake. The NDF intake only increased in the WB group. The CP digestibility was higher for the MPM and WB groups than for MM and SG ones (P < 0.001). Sheep supplementation in the rainy season increased the average daily gain (ADG). Any supplement tested in the present study can be used during the rainy season. The choice for the supplement will depend on the availability and costs of the supplement.

No abstract

ResumoO objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o acúmulo de forragem durante o período de ocupação pelos animais em pastos de capim-quicuiu (Pennisetum clandestinum Hochst. Ex. Chiov.) manejados sob lotação intermitente. Os tratamentos consistiram de quatro proporções de desfolhação (remoção de 40, 50, 60 e 70% da altura inicial) partindo de uma mesma altura em pré-pastejo (20 cm). Foram avaliadas: taxas de alongamento foliar e colmos e senescência de folhas, índice de área foliar e taxa de acúmulo de forragem. Adicionalmente, dez perfilhos por faixa foram avaliados para as mesmas variáveis dentro de gaiolas de exclusão. Os efeitos linear, quadrático e cúbico da severidade de desfolhação foram avaliados por contrastes de polinômios ortogonais com 5% de nível de significância. Houve relação linear e inversa entre a porcentagem do índice de área foliar removido e o alongamento de lâminas foliares e o acúmulo de forragem. As taxas de alongamento de folhas em perfilhos bem como o acúmulo de forragem nas áreas excluídas do pastejo foram maiores em relação aos pastos submetidos a desfolhação. Durante o período de rebaixamento de pastos manejados sob lotação intermitente ocorre acúmulo de forragem e o mesmo é linear e inversamente associado à proporção da área foliar removida.Palavras-chave: fluxo de tecidos; índice de área foliar; produção de forragem; severidade de desfolhação; taxa de acúmulo. AbstractThe aim of this study was to evaluate the forage accumulation during the stocking period on Kikuyu grass pastures (Pennisetum clandestinum Hochst. Ex. Chiov) subjected to intermittent stocking. Treatments consisted of four defoliation levels (removal of 40, 50, 60, and 70% relative to the initial height) starting from the same pre-grazing height (20 cm). The following variables were evaluated: leaf and stem elongation rates (evaluated during four times across the period of occupation), leaf area index, and forage accumulation rates. Additionally, ten tillers/strip were evaluated for the same

This study aimed to evaluate different energy sources in multiple supplements on performance, intake and digestibility of Santa Ines sheep grazing urochloa grass (Urochloa mosambicensis) during the rainy season. The experimental area was divided into seven paddocks of four-ha each, with an average of dry matter (DM) availability of 3213.45 kg/ha. A completely randomized design was carried out, in which there were four treatments, and each treatment was repeated six times. Twenty-four intact lambs (average: 32 kg of body weight) were supplemented with a mineral mixture, the control group (MM), mesquite pod meal (MPM), wheat bran (WB) or sorghum grain (SG) as energy sources. The digestibility of DM and crude protein (CP) in MPM, and WB is higher than in MM and SG groups. The DM digestibility was higher in the WB group; however, there was no difference between the other treatments. Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF) digestibility was similar between supplemented lambs, and it was higher than the MM. The supplementation promoted higher weight gain than in the control group (0.125 vs. 0.61 g/day, respectively; P < 0.001). The supplementation increased the DM, and CP intake. The NDF intake only increased in the WB group. The CP digestibility was higher for the MPM and WB groups than for MM and SG ones (P < 0.001). Sheep supplementation in the rainy season increased the average daily gain (ADG). Any supplement tested in the present study can be used during the rainy season. The choice for the supplement will depend on the availability and costs of the supplement.