Ingestive behavior, performance and forage intake by beef heifers on tropical pasture systems

Abstract

The experiment was carried out to evaluate forage intake, performance and ingestive behavior of beef heifers. Productive, structural and chemical characteristics of the pasture were also evaluated. The experimental design was completely randomized in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement, with three pasture systems (Alexandergrass [Urochloa plantaginea Link.] with and without supplement to heifers and Coastcross [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.]) and two phenological stages: vegetative and flowering.Thegrazingmethodwasput-and-takestocking.Grazing,ruminatingandidleactivities,feedingstations, displacement patterns, bite mass and bite rate were evaluated. The forage intake was estimated using chromic oxide as an indicator of fecal output. The heifers modifiedtheuseoffeedingstationsanddisplacementpatternsbetweenphenologicalstages and pasture systems. Heifers consumed more forage in the vegetative stage (2.81% of body weight in dry matter) than in the floweringstage(1.92%ofbodyweightindrymatter).Averagedailygain,bodyconditionandstockingrateweresimilarfor heifers in the evaluated systems. Beef heifers receiving protein supplement on Alexandergrass pasture consumed more forage than heifers fed Coastcross exclusively. Regardless of the species, no difference was observed when the heifers were exclusively on pasture. Pasture systems on Alexandergrass or Coastcross provide suitable nutrient intake for heifers to be mated at 18 months of age ©2013 Sociedade Brasileira de Zootecnia.