Taise Robinson Kunrath

Relações planta-animal em ambiente pastoril heterogêneo: processo de ingestão de forragem

Com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito da estrutura de uma pastagem nativa nos parâmetros que compoem o processo de ingestao de forragem de ovelhas e bezerras em pastejo, foram estabelecidas quatro alturas de pasto (4, 8, 12 e 16 cm), em delineamento estatistico inteiramente casualizado, com quatro tratamentos e duas repeticoes no tempo e no espaco. A massa do bocado e a taxa de ingestao foram estimados por diferenca de peso vivo corrigido para a perda de peso metabolico, durante 45 minutos. Os movimentos mandibulares de apreensao e mastigacao foram registrados pelo aparelho IGER Behaviour Recorder. A profundidade do bocado foi obtida em 40 perfilhos marcados por unidade experimental, em medicoes realizadas antes e apos o pastejo. Observou-se correlacao positiva entre a altura do pasto e a massa de forragem, e negativa com a densidade de forragem. A profundidade de bocados apresentou relacao linear e positiva com o aumento da altura do pasto e nao diferiu entre especies animais. Acima de 9,5 cm de altura do pasto, a profundidade do bocado das ovelhas nao compensou a pouca densidade de forragem nos estratos mais superiores, o que reduziu a massa do bocado. A mesma resposta foi observada a partir da altura do pasto de 11,4 cm para as bezerras. Com o aumento da massa do bocado, houve diminuicao na taxa de bocados e aumento na taxa de mastigacao. A taxa de ingestao foi maior nas alturas em que a massa de bocados foi tambem superior, o que evidencia a correlacao positiva entre as duas variaveis. Nessas condicoes, para aumentar o consumo de ovelhas e bezerras em campo nativo, a estrutura ideal de manejo requer manutencao de altura do pasto entre 9,5 e 11,4 cm, respectivamente.

Impact of nitrogen fertilization on the forage characteristics and beef calf performance on native pasture overseeded with ryegrass

The overseeding of ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam) on sub-tropical native pastures increases the availability and quality of forage in the cold season. However, soil chemical amendment and nitrogen use can affect the floristic composition, with consequences to the primary and secondary production. In a randomized complete block design with three replications, the effect of nitrogen fertilization (40, 90 and 140 kg/ha of nitrogen) on native pasture overseeded with ryegrass in two consecutive years was assessed regarding production and composition of pasture and performance of beef calves. In both years, the forage accumulation rate and forage production responded linearly to the increase in nitrogen rates as a result of increased participation of ryegrass. The lower efficiency of responses in 2008 was due to the increased participation of dead material and the reduction of ryegrass in the forage sward. In 2007 there was an increasing substitution of the participation of native grasses by ryegrass with increasing nitrogen rates. Native legumes and other species were almost not affected by nitrogen fertilization. The average daily weight gain of the animals responded linearly to nitrogen rates in 2007, and quadratically in 2008. The stocking rate and gain per hectare increased linearly in both years, with greater responses in 2007. The production and composition of forage and livestock production are improved by the use of nitrogen, but the efficiency of responses can be affected by sowing date and nitrogen fertilization.

Característica produtiva e estrutural de pastos mistos de aveia e azevém manejados em quatro alturas sob lotação contínua

It was monitored variables related to production and structure of oat (Avena strigosa Schreb) and ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam) pastures managed at four sward heights (10, 20, 30, and 40 cm) on continuous grazing with variable stocking (put and take). It was used crossbred beef steers at approximately 10 months of age and an average initial weight 190 kg in a complete random block design with three replicates. The type of sward height distribution in six different sample dates as well as the forage dry mass prediction through sward heights were investigated. Forage mass linearly increased according to the sward height: for each 1-cm increase of the height above 10 cm, there was an approximately 107 kg DM/ha addition in the forage mass. There was no effect of sward height on the accumulation rate (55.8 kg DM/ha) neither on the dry matter total production (8,210 kg of DM/ha). Frequency distributions fitted to the normal model in only one out of the 96 analyzed data series. Gamma type distribution was the one that was the most frequently adjusted to sward height data, however, once grazing was started, pasture heterogeneity was so high that height distribution did not fit any of the investigated models. It is possible to estimate forage dry mass on the pasture by its average height so it is suggested to establish variable heights over the grazing cycle aiming to manage the heterogeneity caused by the animal.

Terminação de cordeiros em pastagens de azevém anual manejadas em diferentes intensidades e métodos de pastejo

This work measured lamb performance in a ryegrass pasture (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) under different grazing intensities and methods. The pasture was used from July 12th to November 1st of 2003 (total of 113 days). The treatments were two grazing intensities (moderate and low) in rotational and continuous stocking. The moderate and low grazing intensities were represented, respectively, by forage allowance of 2.5 and 5 fold the intake potential. It was used a factorial arrangement (2 intensities × 2 methods × 4 replicates) in a complete randomized block design. There was no interaction among grazing methods and grazing intensities and they were analyzed separately. The moderate grazing intensity provided the lower forage allowance, lower herbage mass and lower pasture height. This intensity affected positively the qualitative characteristics of pasture as well. Regarding the grazing methods, the height and the herbage mass were larger under rotational stocking, while the forage quality was higher under continuous stocking. There was no difference of forage allowance between methods, and the necessary conditions to compare all the variables measured were reached. There were significant differences between average daily gain and stocking rates on both, grazing methods and intensities. The gain/hectare was better under moderate grazing intensity, but no difference was identified under grazing methods for this intensity. The amount of forage available for the animal is the central key for the productivity, despite the grazing method used. Low grazing intensity was considered more appropriate for pasture management because it allows better gain per animal.

Grazing management in an integrated crop-livestock system: soybean development and grain yield.

Grazing livestock in integrated crop-livestock systems can cause impacts in the subsequent crop cycle. Aiming to investigate how grazing could affect soybean, the 9th crop cycle of a pasture/soybean rotation was assessed. Treatments were grazing intensities (10, 20, 30 and 40 cm of sward height) applied since 2001 in a mixed of oat and annual ryegrass; and an additional no grazing area as control. Treatments were arranged in a completely randomized block design with three replicates. Grazing affected soybean population and the mass of individual nodules (P 0.05). Soybean yield showed differences among treatments, but no difference was found between grazed and non-grazed areas. Grazing intensities impact the coverage and frequency of weeds (P>0.05). In conclusion, grazing intensity impacts different parameters of soybean yield and development, but only the grazing intensity of 10 cm can jeopardize the succeeding soybean crop.

Quality of the forage apparently consumed by beef calves in natural grassland under fertilization and oversown with cool season forage species

The objective of this study was to evaluate the chemical composition of the forage apparently consumed by steers in a natural grassland on region of Campanha, in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, subjected or not to different inputs: NP - natural pasture without inputs; FNP - fertilized natural pasture and INP - improved natural grassland with fertilization and over-seeded with cultivated winter species. Three Angus steers testers and a variable number of regulator animals per experimental unit were utilized in order to maintain 13 kg of DM/100 kg of live weight (LW) as forage allowance. One time at each season, hand plucking samples were performed along the daily grazing time simulating forage harvested by the animals. The collected samples after drying and grind were submitted to chemical analysis to determine the forage quality. Except in winter and spring, the values of neutral detergent fiber were higher than the critical value of 550 g/kg of DM, which could limit forage intake, demonstrating that the values of forage on offer provided (15.6; 13.7; 13.5; 15.8 kg of DM/100 kg of LW/day in summer, autumn, winter and spring, respectively) were not restrictive to intake. The oversowing of winter cultivated species or fertilization positively alter the degradable fiber content. The seasons had marked influence on the chemical composition of forage apparently consumed; positively increasing some fractions of forage chemical composition in the seasons in which native or cultivated winter species increased their participation. The forage chemical composition is the determining factor in animal performance in natural pasture.

Umidade do solo e fisiologia da soja afetados por estiagem em sistema de integração lavoura‑pecuária

The objective of this work was to evaluate the impact of grazing intensities after 11 years of an integrated crop‑livestock system, under no‑tillage, on soil moisture and soybean physiological parameters during a summer season affected by drought. The experiment was established in 2001 on a Rhodic Hapludox. Treatments consisted in the succession of soybean (summer) and a mixed pasture of black oat + Italian ryegrass (winter), under different beef‑cattle grazing intensities: intensive grazing, with 0.10‑m pasture height; moderate grazing, with 0.20‑m pasture height; and no grazing. During the soybean cycle, in the 2011/2012 crop season, rainfall was 40% of the climatological normal. The soil moisture was within the limits of available water both under moderate grazing and no grazing, at 0.00–0.50‑m soil depth, but, under intensive grazing, it was below the permanent wilting point, especially up to the grazing height of 0.20 m. Intensive grazing affected negatively the plant physiology parameters, reaching peaks of ‑2.5 MPa and +6°C for leaf water potential and leaf‑air temperature difference, respectively. Moderate grazing or the absence of grazing, during the winter season, results in similar physiological responses, contributing to soybean plant homeostasis.

Animal production and soil characteristics from integrated crop-livestock systems: toward sustainable intensification

Sustainable intensification of land-use practices has never been more important to ensure food security for a growing world population. When combined under thoughtful management, cover cropping and crop-livestock integration under no-till systems can benefit from unexpected synergies due to their unique features of plant-animal diversification and complex agroecosystem functions. Mimicking the nutrient coupling/decoupling processes of natural ecosystems by diversifying plant and animal components of no-till integrated crop-livestock operations is an essential feature of the design of agroecological systems that support self-regulating feedbacks and lend resilience while increasing productivity and ecosystem service provision. Focusing on grazing animals as drivers of agroecosystem change, we highlight the benefits of grazed cover crops in rotation with cash crops for primary and secondary production and for soil physical, chemical, and biological parameters. However, careful management of grazing intensity is imperative; overgrazing drives soil deterioration, while light to moderate grazing enhances overall system functioning and allows for the generation of emergent properties.