The study of factors influencing animal intake can provide a better understanding of the dynamics of the pasture ecosystem and serve as a basis for managing livestock in a more efficient way. We measured different sward surface heights of tall fescue in the process of short-term intake rate of sheep. There was a significant effect of sward surface height on herbage mass ( P < 0.001), leaf lamina mass ( P < 0.001), other species mass ( P = 0.02), bite mass ( P = 0.01) and short-term intake rate ( P = 0.03) of sheep. There was a quadratic fit between time per bite and bite mass ( P = 0.006). Multivariate analysis showed that the short-term intake rate and bite mass were positively correlated (r = 0.97), bite rate and total jaw movement rate were positively correlated but both were negatively correlated with time per bite. The sward surface height of tall fescue corresponding to the maximum short-term herbage intake rate was 22.3 cm. The underlying processes were driven by the bite mass, which was influenced by the leaf lamina bulk density and its consequences upon time per bite. This sward surface height can be adopted as a pre-grazing target for rotational stocking systems to optimize sheep nutrition on pastures.

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RESUMOO consórcio de milho com capins trata-se de uma prática bastante utilizada em regiões de clima tropical. Entretanto nada se conhece sobre sua adoção em regiões de clima temperado. Este trabalho objetivou avaliar o crescimento de diferentes capins e sua influência sobre o rendimento do milho em função do sistema de semeadura adotado no cultivo em consórcio no Planalto Catarinense. O experimento foi implantado em esquema fatorial 3x3, sendo os fatores compostos por três sistemas de semeadura do capim e três cultivares de braquiárias. As médias foram avaliadas pelo teste de Tukey, a 5% de probabilidade. O capim Urochloa ruziziensis cv. Ruziziensis apresentou maior aporte de matéria seca total. O cultivo do milho em consórcio com os capins não influenciou a produtividade da cultura, independente do sistema de semeadura e do capim utilizado. PALAVRAS-CHAVE:Urochloa brizantha, Urochloa ruziziensis, Zea mays, produtividade, integração lavoura-pecuária. ABSTRACTThe intercropping corn with grasses it is a widely used practice in tropical climates, but nothing is known about its adoption in temperate regions. This study aimed to evaluate the growth influence of different grasses on corn yield due to the seeding system adopted in intercropping. The experiment was established in a 3x3 factorial scheme, the factors being composed of 3 grass seeding systems and 3 cultivars of grass. The means were evaluated by Tukey test at 5% probability. The higher amount of total dry matter was obtained by Urochloa ruziziensis cv. Ruziziensis grass. The corn intercropped with the grasses did not affect the crop yield, regardless of seeding and grass used system.

RESUMO -O consórcio de milho com capins trata-se de uma prática bastante utilizada em regiões de clima tropical; entretanto, nada se conhece sobre sua adoção em regiões de clima temperado. Este trabalho objetivou avaliar o crescimento de diferentes capins e sua influência sobre o rendimento do milho em função do sistema de semeadura adotado no cultivo em consórcio no Planalto Catarinense. O experimento foi implantado em esquema fatorial 3x3, sendo os fatores compostos por três sistemas de semeadura do capim e três cultivares de braquiária. As médias foram avaliadas pelo teste de Tukey, a 5% de probabilidade. O maior aporte de matéria seca total foi obtido pelo capim Urochloa ruziziensis cv. Ruziziensis. As espécies de capim estudadas apresentaram boa adaptação para o consórcio com a cultura do milho no Planalto Catarinense, sem afetar a produtividade da cultura do milho. Palavras-chave:Urochloa brizantha, U. ruziziensis, Zea mays, Produtividade, Integração Lavoura-Pecuária. GROWTH OF TROPICAL GRASSES CULTIVATED WITH MAIZE IN THE SANTA CATARINA STATEABSTRACT -The intercropping maize with grasses is a practice widely used in tropical climates, but nothing is known about the use in temperate regions. This study aimed to evaluate the growth of different grasses and the effect on maize yield considering the seeding system adopted in the intercropping. The experiment was established in a 3x3 factorial scheme comprising three grass seeding systems and three cultivars of grass. The means were evaluated by Tukey test at 5 % probability. The higher amount of total dry matter was observed in Urochloa ruziziensis cv.Ruziziensis. The studied grass species showed good adaptation to the intercropping with maize in Santa Catarina Plateau, without affecting the maize yield. . Key words: GROWTH OF TROPICAL GRASSES CULTIVATED WITH MAIZE IN THE SANTA CATARINA STATEABSTRACT -The intercropping maize with grasses is a practice widely used in tropical climates, but nothing is known about the use in temperate regions. This study aimed to evaluate the growth of different grasses and the effect

Aims This study evaluated the optimal herbage level from both plant and animal perspectives, through the adjustment of instantaneous herbage accumulation rate as estimed by the Gompertz curve model and short-term intake rate of sheep. Schedonorus arundinaceus (tall fescue) was used as an experimental model. Methods Weekly tall fescue herbage accumulation was measured during seven growth periods initiated on monthly intervals (October, November, and December 2015, and March, April, August and September 2016) with the initiation dates arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replicates. Total herbage mass, leaf lamina mass, pseudo-stem + sheath mass, senescent mass, and sward surface height were measured each week. Results We demonstrated that a pre-grazing sward surface height of 22.3 cm of tall fescue promoted concomitantly the maximum short-term intake rate of sheep and the instantaneous herbage accumulation rate in the spring and autumn periods. In general, the convergent point occurred after the maximum instantaneous leaf lamina accumulation rate and before the maximum instantaneous accumulation rate of pseudo-stem + sheath and senescent material. Conclusions We suggest the existence of a convergent point in which both primary and secondary production of pastoral ecosystems could be fostered, potentially reconciling the fundamental ecological dilemma of grazing systems.