This study aimed to evaluate the hypothesis that mixed sequential grazing of dairy cows and breeding ewes is beneficial. During the seasons of spring-summer 2013 and autumn-winter 2013-2014, 12 (spring-summer) and 16 (autumn-winter) Holstein Friesian cows and 24 gestating (spring-summer) and lactating (autumn-winter) Pelibuey ewes grazed on six (spring-summer) and nine (autumn-winter) paddocks of alfalfa and orchard grass mixed pastures. The treatments "single species cow grazing" (CowG) and "mixed sequential grazing with ewes as followers of cows" (MixG) were evaluated, under a completely randomized design with two replicates per paddock. Herbage mass on offer (HO) and residual herbage mass (RH) were estimated by cutting samples. The estimate of herbage intake (HI) of cows was based on the use of internal and external markers; the apparent HI of ewes was calculated as the difference between HO (RH of cows) and RH. Even though HO was higher in CowG, the HI of cows was higher in MixG during spring-summer and similar in both treatments during autumn-winter, implying that in MixG the effects on the cows HI of higher alfalfa proportion and herbage accumulation rate evolving from lower residual herbage mass in the previous cycle counteracted that of a higher HO in CowG. The HI of ewes was sufficient to enable satisfactory performance as breeding ewes. Thus, the benefits of mixed sequential grazing arose from higher herbage accumulation, positive changes in botanical composition, and the achievement of sheep production without negative effects on the herbage intake of cows.

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether botanical, morphological and nutritional compositions of the herbage ingested by the cows are affected by age of pastures and grazing system. Mixed sequential grazing of dairy Holstein cows with Pelibuey breeding ewes as followers (MixG) and single species cow grazing (CowG) were the systems evaluated. Animals grazed on pastures of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata L.) in their first and second year (young) or third to fifth year (mature). During spring-summer, the proportion of alfalfa in herbage ingested by the cows was 20% higher (P < 0.01) in young than in mature pastures. Conversely, that of orchard grass was 43% higher (P < 0.05) in mature pastures. The NDF and ADF contents were 9 and 13% lower (P < 0.05) under MixG than CowG. During autumn-winter, CP content was not affected by grazing system or age of pastures. During spring-summer, CP content was 8% higher in MixG than CowG. Sequential mixed grazing of dairy cows and breeding ewes improved the composition of herbage ingested by the cows.