Effect of residual leaf area index on spatial components of Tifton 85 pastures and ingestive behaviour of sheep
W. L. Silva A C , J. P. R. Costa A , G. P. Caputti A , A. L. S. Valente A , D. Tsuzukibashi A , E. B. Malheiros B , R. A. Reis A and A. C. Ruggieri A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Animal Science Department, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal 14884-900, São Paulo, Brazil.
B Exact Sciences Department, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal 14884-900, São Paulo, Brazil.
C Corresponding author. Email: wiltonladeira@yahoo.com.br
Animal Production Science 57(5) 903-911 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN15087
Submitted: 14 February 2015 Accepted: 10 February 2016 Published: 26 May 2016
Abstract
This study compared the effect of residual leaf area index (rLAI) on the spatial distribution of morphological components of Tifton 85 (Cynodon spp.) pastures and the ingestive behaviour of grazing sheep. Also, it was investigated whether any specific correlation could be found between pasture structural characteristics and sheep ingestive behaviour. Four rLAI treatments (0.8; 1.4; 2.0 and 2.6) with four replications were evaluated per period. Sheep grazed under rotational stocking management and they grazed for 4 days in each pasture while pasture regrowth period was determined by the 95% light interception requirement. Pasture structure was evaluated using inclined point-quadrat, LAI estimates, light interception and leaf : stem ratio. The 2.6 rLAI yielded the highest proportion of dead material in the lower canopy. In the post-grazing period the proportion of leaves increased with increasing rLAI, especially on the canopy surface during the rainy season. In the pre-grazing average pasture height ranged between 19 and 26 cm with dead material and stem observed up to the canopy surface in the dry season. The animals grazed longer on the last day (89.72%) compared with the first day (80.25%) in the dry season. However, they spent less time (11.45%) ruminating in the dry season compared with the rainy season (15.38%), regardless of the grazing day. Grazing time decreased and rumination time increased as rLAI increased. Sheep grazing time correlated negatively with pasture height, before and after grazing. The sheep tend to graze longer on Tifton 85 pastures when rLAI was lower and forage supply was possibly less as on the last grazing day and in the dry season.
Additional keywords: animal–pasture interaction, grazing, inclined point-quadrat, light interception, residual LAI.
References
Aguiar AD, Vendramini JMB, Arthington JD, Sollenberger LE, Sanchez JMD, Silva WL, Valente ALS, Salvo P (2014) Stocking rate effects on ‘Jiggs’ bermudagrass pastures grazed by heifers receiving supplementation. Crop Science 54, 2872–2879.| Stocking rate effects on ‘Jiggs’ bermudagrass pastures grazed by heifers receiving supplementation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Armstrong RH, Robertson E, Hunter EA (1995) The effect of sward height and its direction of change on herbage intake, diet selection and performance on weaned lambs grazing ryegrass swards. Grass and Forage Science 50, 389–398.
| The effect of sward height and its direction of change on herbage intake, diet selection and performance on weaned lambs grazing ryegrass swards.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Brougham RW (1956) Effects of intensity of desfoliation on regrowth of pastures. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 7, 377–387.
| Effects of intensity of desfoliation on regrowth of pastures.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Carnevalli RA, Da Silva SC, Bueno AAO, Uebele MC, Bueno FO, Hodgson J, Silva GN, Morais JPG (2006) Herbage production and grazing losses in Panicum maximum cv. Mombaça under four grazing managements. Tropical Grasslands 40, 165–176.
Carrère P, Louault F, Carvalho PCF, Lafarge M, Soussana JF (2001) How does the vertical and horizontal structure of a grass and clover sward influence grazing? Grass and Forage Science 56, 118–130.
| How does the vertical and horizontal structure of a grass and clover sward influence grazing?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Carvalho PCF, Moraes A (2005) Comportamento ingestivo de ruminantes: bases para o manejo sustentável do pasto. In ‘Manejo Sustentável em Pastagem’. (Eds U Cecato, CC Jobim) pp. 1–20. (UEM: Maringá, Brasil)
Carvalho PCF, Ribeiro Filho HMN, Poli CHC (2001) Importância da estrutura da pastagem na ingestão e seleção de dietas pelo animal em pastejo. In ‘Reunião Anual da Sociedade Brasileira de Zootecnia’. (Ed. WRS Mattos) pp. 853–871. (FEALQ: Piracicaba, Brasil)
Cunha BAL, Nascimento Júnior D, Silveira MCT, Montagner DB, Euclides VPB, Da Silva SC, Sbrissia AF, Rodrigues CS, Sousa BML, Pena KS, Vilela HH, Silva WL (2010) Effects of two postgrazing heights on morphogenic and structural characteristics of guinea grass under rotational grazing. Tropical Grasslands 44, 253–259.
Da Silva SC, Bueno AAO, Carnevalli RA, Uebele MC, Bueno FO, Hodgson J, Matthew C, Arnold GC, Morais JPG (2009) Sward structural characteristics and herbage accumulation of Panicum maximum cv. mombaça subjected to rotational stocking managements. Scientia Agricola 66, 8–19.
| Sward structural characteristics and herbage accumulation of Panicum maximum cv. mombaça subjected to rotational stocking managements.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Da Trindade JK, Pinto CE, Neves FP, Mezzalira JC, Bremm C, Genro TCM, Tischler MR, Nabinger C, Gonda HL, Carvalho PCF (2012) Forage allowance as a target of grazing management: implications on grazing time and forage searching. Rangeland Ecology and Management 65, 382–393.
| Forage allowance as a target of grazing management: implications on grazing time and forage searching.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Dado RG, Allen MS (1995) Intake limitation, feeding behavior, and rumen function of cows challenged with rumen fill from dietary fiber or inert bulk. Journal of Dairy Science 78, 118–133.
| Intake limitation, feeding behavior, and rumen function of cows challenged with rumen fill from dietary fiber or inert bulk.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK2MXjsFehurg%3D&md5=7c3dd04d93f49e81cca437cb18afa04cCAS | 7738249PubMed |
Demment MW, Peyraud JL, Laca EA (1995) Herbage intake at grazing: a modelling approach. In ‘Recent developments in the nutrition of herbivores’. (Eds M Journet, E Grenet, MH Farce, M Theriez, C Demarquilly) pp. 137–143. (Institut national de la recherche agronomique: Versailles)
El Aich A, Assouli AE, Fathi A, Morandfehr P, Bourbouze A (2007) Ingestive behavior of goats grazing in the Southwestern Argan (Argania spinosa) forest of Morocco. Small Ruminant Research 70, 248–256.
| Ingestive behavior of goats grazing in the Southwestern Argan (Argania spinosa) forest of Morocco.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Fonseca L, Carvalho PCF, Mezzalira JC, Bremm C, Galli JR, Gregorini P (2013) Effect of sward surface height and level of herbage depletion on bite features of cattle grazing Sorghum bicolor swards. Journal of Animal Science 91, 4357–4365.
| Effect of sward surface height and level of herbage depletion on bite features of cattle grazing Sorghum bicolor swards.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3sXhsVOlsbvF&md5=f23cb2474242c210752c7307c2a1bf8dCAS | 23825342PubMed |
Gregorini P, Gunter SA, Bowman MT, Caldwell JD, Masino CA, Coblentz WK, Beck PA (2011) Effect of herbage depletion on short-term foraging dynamics and diet quality of steers grazing wheat pastures. Journal of Animal Science 89, 3824–3830.
| Effect of herbage depletion on short-term foraging dynamics and diet quality of steers grazing wheat pastures.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3MXhsVSqsrjL&md5=6ce3174e3e83d54b32da45c6036a4630CAS | 21642497PubMed |
Griffiths WM, Hodgson J, Arnold GC (2003) The influence of sward canopy structure on foraging decisions by grazing cattle. II. Regulation of bite depth. Grass and Forage Science 58, 125–137.
| The influence of sward canopy structure on foraging decisions by grazing cattle. II. Regulation of bite depth.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hodgson J (Ed.) (1990) ‘Grazing management: science into practice.’ (Longman Group: Ipswich, UK)
Hodgson J, Cosgrove GP, Woodward SJR (1997) Research on foraging behavior: progress and priorities. In ‘Proceedings of the 18th international grassland congress’. (Eds JC Buchanan-Smith, L Bails, P McCaughev) pp. 109–118. (Association Management Centre: Calagary, Canada)
Jamieson WS, Hodgson J (1979) The effect of variation in sward characteristics upon the ingestive behavior and herbage intake of calves and lambs under continuous stocking management. Grass and Forage Science 34, 273–282.
| The effect of variation in sward characteristics upon the ingestive behavior and herbage intake of calves and lambs under continuous stocking management.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Korte CJ, Watkin BR, Harris W (1982) Use of residual leaf area index and light interception as criteria for spring-grazing management of a ryegrass-dominant pasture. New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research 25, 309–319.
| Use of residual leaf area index and light interception as criteria for spring-grazing management of a ryegrass-dominant pasture.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Laca EA, Lemaire G (2000) Measuring sward structure. In ‘Field and laboratory methods for grassland and animal production research’. (Eds L Mannetje, RM Jones) pp. 103–121. (CAB Publications: Wallingford, UK)
Mezzalira JC, Bremm C, Trindade JK, Nabinger C, Carvalho PCF (2012) The ingestive behaviour of cattle in large-scale and its application to pasture management in heterogeneous pastoral environments. Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology 2, 909–916.
Nicol CJ (1995) The social transmission of information and behavior. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 44, 79–98.
| The social transmission of information and behavior.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Orr RJ, Cook JE, Champion RA, Rook AJ (2004) Relationships between morphological and chemical characteristics of perennial ryegrass varieties and intake by sheep under continuous stocking management. Grass and Forage Science 59, 389–398.
| Relationships between morphological and chemical characteristics of perennial ryegrass varieties and intake by sheep under continuous stocking management.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Parsons AJ, Johnson IR, Harvey A (1988) Use of a model to optimize the interaction between frequency and severity of intermittent defoliation to provide a fundamental comparison of the continuous and intermittent defoliation of grass. Grass and Forage Science 43, 49–59.
| Use of a model to optimize the interaction between frequency and severity of intermittent defoliation to provide a fundamental comparison of the continuous and intermittent defoliation of grass.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Penning PD (1986) Some effects of sward conditions on grazing behaviour and intake by sheep. In ‘Grazing research at northern latitudes’. (Ed. O Gudmundsson) pp. 219–226. (Plenum: London, UK)
Penning PD, Parsons AJ, Orr RJ, Treacher TT (1991) Intake and behaviour responses by sheep to changes in sward characteristics under continuous stoking. Grass and Forage Science 46, 15–28.
| Intake and behaviour responses by sheep to changes in sward characteristics under continuous stoking.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Rodrigues MM, Oliveira ME, Moura RL, Rufino MOA, Silva WKA, Nascimento MPSCB (2013) Forage intake and behavior of goats on Tanzania-grass pasture at two regrowth ages. Acta Scientiarum 35, 37–41.
Santos MV, Kozloski GV, Quadros FLF, Pires CC, Wommer TP, Mônego CO (2012) Animal production and canopy attributes of Cynodon pasture managed under continuous stocking with wethers at three levels of forage allowance. Brazilian Journal of Animal Science 41, 181–187.
SAS (2008) ‘SAS/STAT user’s guide. Version 9.2.’ (SAS Institute Inc.: Cary, NC)
Silva WL, Galzerano L, Reis RA, Ruggieri AC (2013) Structural characteristics and forage mass of Tifton 85 pastures managed under three post-grazing residual leaf areas. Brazilian Journal of Animal Science 42, 238–245.
Stobbs TH (1973) The effect of plant structure on the intake of tropical pastures. 1. Variation in the bite size of grazing cattle. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 24, 809–819.
| The effect of plant structure on the intake of tropical pastures. 1. Variation in the bite size of grazing cattle.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Van Soest PJ (Ed.) (1994) ‘Nutritional ecology of the ruminant.’ (Cornell University Press: Ithaca, NY)
Veissier I, Boissy A, Nowak R, Orgeur P, Poindron P (1998) Ontogeny of social awareness in domestic herbivores. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 57, 233–245.
| Ontogeny of social awareness in domestic herbivores.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Warren Wilson J (1960) Inclined point quadrats. New Phytologist 59, 1–7.
| Inclined point quadrats.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Zanini GD, Santos GT, Sbrissia AF (2012) Frequencies and intensities of defoliation in Aruana Guineagrass swards: accumulation and morphological composition of forage. Brazilian Journal of Animal Science 41, 905–913.
