Effect of grazing height on Marandu pasture production and performan of soybean grain-supplemented Nellore bulls

摘要

The Brazilian beef cattle industry is primarily based on the use of pastures. Grasses belonging to the genus Brachiaria are extremely important, 4 regardless of whether the production system used is intensive or extensive.Appropriate management of the system is vital for obtaining a high efficiency of resource usage. Adjustment of stocking rate to maintain optimum forage allowance and feeding of supplements are strategics for achieving these aims. Feeding of concentrateson pasture can result in increased carrying capacity and higher weight gains over unsupplemented systems.The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of 3 different grazing heights on pasture production and performance of young Nellore bulls grazing Brachiaria hrizantha cv. Marandu. To enable increased pasture carrying capacity and support additional liveweight gains, the bulls were supplemented with soybean grain as an unconventional lipid source.