Dry Matter Intake and Liveweight Gain Related to Sward Characteristics and Quality
Description
A grazing experiment was conducted at the EEMAC, Uruguay, to describe sward characteristics-animal responses relationships of steers rotationally grazing on a rangeland oversowed with Lotus corniculatus, L. Four levels of forage allowance (FA) were evaluated: 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10.0 from Abril-July, and 5.0, 7.5, 10.0 and 12.5 kg DM/100 kg BW/day from July-February. Season was the main effect on forage quantity and quality. Organic matter intake (OMI) and average daily gain (ADG) reflected seasonal effects on pasture. The major constraint was metabolizable energy (ME Mcal/kg DM) except during spring, and during winter the sward structure (low kg DM/ ha). Seasonal change effects were greater than FA, then there was not a single relationship with FA. A model equation was developed as a multiple regression including FA, ME (Mcal/kg DM) and dead material (%).
Dry Matter Intake and Liveweight Gain Related to Sward Characteristics and Quality
A grazing experiment was conducted at the EEMAC, Uruguay, to describe sward characteristics-animal responses relationships of steers rotationally grazing on a rangeland oversowed with Lotus corniculatus, L. Four levels of forage allowance (FA) were evaluated: 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10.0 from Abril-July, and 5.0, 7.5, 10.0 and 12.5 kg DM/100 kg BW/day from July-February. Season was the main effect on forage quantity and quality. Organic matter intake (OMI) and average daily gain (ADG) reflected seasonal effects on pasture. The major constraint was metabolizable energy (ME Mcal/kg DM) except during spring, and during winter the sward structure (low kg DM/ ha). Seasonal change effects were greater than FA, then there was not a single relationship with FA. A model equation was developed as a multiple regression including FA, ME (Mcal/kg DM) and dead material (%).
