Publication Date
1997
Description
Animal production from sown pastures of Gatton Panic (Panicum maximum Jacq.) and Estrella (Cynodon nlemfuënsis Vand.) on a luvic Kastanozem in the Central Chaco of Paraguay (mean annual rainfall 850 mm) was measured over two years (Sep. 1992 to Nov. 1994). The pastures were grazed continuously by Brahman X Hereford steers at six stocking densities, ranging from 0.5 to 2.0 American Animal Units (1 AU = 454 kg) per hectare. Herbage availability, chemical composition (ME, XP, fibre) and cattle liveweight gains were measured at four weekly intervals. Building regression models for Utilized metabolizable energy (UME in GJ/ha) and ME requirements for maintenance (RM in GJ/ha) over stocking densities, the maximum energy conversion was obtained with 1.8 AU/ha. At this stocking density, 29 % of UME was transformed into liveweight gain. The calculated intersect of the UME and RM functions occured at a stocking density of 3.4 AU/ha when, theoretically, animals only maintain their body weight.
Citation
Stosiek, D; Glatzle, A; and Schultze-Kraft, R, "Utilized Metabolizable Energy and its Impacts on the Management of Grass Pastures in the Central Chaco of Paraguay" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 3.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1997/session29/3
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Utilized Metabolizable Energy and its Impacts on the Management of Grass Pastures in the Central Chaco of Paraguay
Animal production from sown pastures of Gatton Panic (Panicum maximum Jacq.) and Estrella (Cynodon nlemfuënsis Vand.) on a luvic Kastanozem in the Central Chaco of Paraguay (mean annual rainfall 850 mm) was measured over two years (Sep. 1992 to Nov. 1994). The pastures were grazed continuously by Brahman X Hereford steers at six stocking densities, ranging from 0.5 to 2.0 American Animal Units (1 AU = 454 kg) per hectare. Herbage availability, chemical composition (ME, XP, fibre) and cattle liveweight gains were measured at four weekly intervals. Building regression models for Utilized metabolizable energy (UME in GJ/ha) and ME requirements for maintenance (RM in GJ/ha) over stocking densities, the maximum energy conversion was obtained with 1.8 AU/ha. At this stocking density, 29 % of UME was transformed into liveweight gain. The calculated intersect of the UME and RM functions occured at a stocking density of 3.4 AU/ha when, theoretically, animals only maintain their body weight.
