Utilização de Hemarthria altissima para bovinos de corte

Abstract

Limpograss [Hemarthria altissima (Poir.) Stapf and C. E. Hubb.] grows in the cool season and has tolerance to poorly drained soils. The objective of this work was to evaluate canopy characteristics of stockpiled pastures of limpograss cv. Floralta over two cool seasons. Treatments were arranged in a split-plot in a randomized complete block design, with 12 replications. Canopy layers represented the main plot and the plant fractions the split plot. There were 12 paddocks (blocks) with 1,2 ha each, and a total experimental area of 14,4 ha. Response variables included forage mass, canopy height and density, proportion of leaf and stem, and nutritional value of leaf and stem within each layer. Forage mass fluctuated throughout the season, varying from 4.409 kg DM ha-1 in December to 7.218 kg DM ha-1 in October. Canopy bulk density was greater in February compared to November and December, and similar to October and January. The lower layer showed the greatest proportion of stem and the upper layer, the greatest proportion of leaves. The leaf had greater digestibility (70%) compared to stem (60%). The leaf / stem ratio was greater in the upper layer, but similar between the middle and lower layers. Leaf CP was greater than stem CP, with no differences between stem CP across evaluation dates. Stockpiled limpograss maintained leaf and stem digestibility and can be used as an alternative to reduce feeding costs in North Florida during the cool season.