Seasonal dynamics of pasture and of heifers body weight in natural grasslands with different pre-experimental stocking rate (South-Eastern Range Region of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil)
Abstract
The effects of the climatic seasons and of an unlike pre-experimental stocking rate management (Area 1: moderate stocking rate; Area 2: overgrazing) on forage dynamics (available and produced) and on heifers body weight gain were studied in a natural grassland. Stocking rates were adjusted by the put-and-take technique. During winter the stocking rate was 0.4 AU ha-1 and 0.6 AU ha-1 through the other seasons (AU=500 kg). There was a greater available forage in Area 1 along the year as a result of the overgrazing before the beginning of the experiment in Area 2, whereas the annual forage production did not differ between areas. The critical season on forage offer was winter, when the animals lost weight and the grassland did not supply animal maintenance needs. The feed consumed by the animals promoted weight gains from early spring (September) till late autumn (May).
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