Effect of concentrate supplementation on performance and ingestive behaviour of lambs grazing tropical Aruana grass (Panicum maximum)
N. M. Fajardo A , C. H. E. C. Poli A E , C. Bremm B , J. F. Tontini A , Z. M. S. Castilhos B , C. M. McManus C , B. N. M. Sarout A , J. M. Castro A and A. L. G. Monteiro D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Faculdade de Agronomia, Departamento de Zooctenia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Bento Gonçalves, 7712, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
B Fundação Estadual de Pesquisa Agropecuária (FEPAGRO), R. Gonçalves Dias, 570, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
C Universidade de Brasília (UnB), Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil.
D Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Rua XV de Novembro, 1299, Centro, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
E Corresponding author. Email: cesar.poli@ufrgs.br
Animal Production Science 56(10) 1693-1699 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN14698
Submitted: 15 July 2014 Accepted: 6 April 2015 Published: 2 July 2015
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of concentrate supplementation on the performance and ingestive behaviour of lambs grazing tropical grasslands of Panicum maximum cv. IZ-5 and its effect on pasture characteristics. Different levels of daily supplementation with concentrate were compared: no supplementation; or supplemented at 1.5% and 2.5% of lamb liveweight. The grazing simulation technique was used for qualitative assessment of the pasture every 28 days. Herbage mass, pasture growth rate, sward height as well as botanical and morphological composition of the pasture were evaluated. Average daily gain, gain per hectare and ingestive behaviour were measured on the lambs. The forage supply was 4% of green leaves (4 kg dry matter per 100 kg of liveweight) in all treatments. Six 3–4-month-old Texel and Corriedale lambs were used per paddock. The design was a randomised block design with three replications. Concentrate supplementation had a direct effect on pasture structure, especially height (significant interaction treatment vs period – P = 0.0373). In the treatment without supplementation, the animals grazed for a longer period than the others. Idle time was higher in the treatment with the highest level of supplementation, and rumination time was similar among the treatments. Supplementation with 2.5% significantly increased the average daily gain (0.143 g vs 0.026 g for no supplementation) and gain per hectare (30 kg vs 258 kg for no supplementation vs supplementation at 2.5% of lamb liveweight, respectively). The results show the potential increase in production and productivity with the use of concentrate supplementation at 2.5% lamb bodyweight. Notwithstanding the increase in production, supplementation with concentrate provided a strong negative impact on pasture structure and behaviour of animals that should be considered when using concentrate supplementation for finishing lambs in tropical regions.
Additional keywords: feed, pasture utilisation, sheep production.
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