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Copyright of Tropical Grasslands / Forrajes Tropicales is the property of International Centre for Tropical Agriculture - CIAT and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Tropical Grasslands / Forrajes Tropicales is the property of International Centre for Tropical Agriculture - CIAT and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In the Colombian tropic, it is necessary to establish feeding strategies that increase productivity and reduce costs. This research aimed to evaluate the effect of totumo, mango, and wild guava silage on in vitro digestibility, degradability, and productive parameters in dual-purpose cows. This study was carried out on a farm located in the municipality of Puerto Boyacá. Thirty-two Gyr x Holstein cows (Body weight = 460 ± 35 kg) in early lactation were enrolled and distributed in four groups of eight individuals: T1: control group: no silage; T2: Wild guava silage; T3: Totumo silage and T4: Mango silage. All the cows remained in a rotational grazing system with Brachiaria decumbens, water, and a salt-based mineral supplement ad libitum. There were no differences (p>0,05) in the daily milk production. However, protein levels in milk were higher (p<0,05) in the T2 and T4 treatments. NUL was more elevated in T2 and lower in T4. Silage consumption was higher (p<0,05) in T4, and the body condition score was higher for T2 and T4. For the degradability and digestibility parameters in vitro, treatments T2, T3, and T4 obtained the highest values. Fruits silage supplementation on dual-purpose cows with silage fruits can increase milk protein levels and body condition score. Those silages have a high rate of degradation and in vitro digestibility, representing a feeding alternative for ruminants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Informacion Tecnica Economica Agraria is the property of Asociacion Interprofesional para el Desarrollo Agrario (AIDA) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Rotational grazing, or even grazing cessation, improves soil and plant community structure on the halophytic steppe of the Flooding Pampa. However, no information exists about the effect of those grazing regimes on the soil seed bank of this fragile plant community. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of different grazing regimes on four attributes of the soil seed bank: 1) total size, 2) size and relative contribution of the functional groups of winter grasses (annual and perennial), summer grasses (annual and perennial), non-grass monocotyledonous, legumes and non-legume dicotyledonous, 3) diversity and 4) floristic composition. We studied five plots subjected to different grazing regimes for 14 years (two plots under continuous grazing; two plots under rotating grazing and one excluded from grazing), sampling in June and February to characterize the summer and winter soil seed bank. We found that continuous grazing reduced total seed bank size, and especially that of winter annual grasses and monocotyledonous, and also reduced floristic diversity, richness and evenness, especially in the summer seed bank. In addition, continuous grazing triggered important species replacements within each functional group, especially in the winter annual grasses, summer perennial grasses and dicotyledonous, the three groups explaining most proportion of the soil seed bank. Therefore, plots under continuous grazing were floristically different from those under rotational grazing or ungrazed. This work suggests that continuous grazing is a severe disturbance which can reduce the regeneration potential of the halophytic steppe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Informacion Tecnica Economica Agraria is the property of Asociacion Interprofesional para el Desarrollo Agrario (AIDA) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Tropical Grasslands / Forrajes Tropicales is the property of International Centre for Tropical Agriculture - CIAT and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: To characterize the pastureland and its management indicators in a Voisin rational grazing system, on undulating to cracked soils, in the humid tropic of Los Santos, Panama. Materials and Methods: An intensive management system with Voisin rational grazing was evaluated, where the rotation of the animals was projected from the determination of its optimum resting point. Twenty four paddocks were used, with 1,9 days of average occupation. The effective stocking rate, grazing intensity, forage offer level and grazing pressure were the main management indicators. Results: The effective stocking rate was high (3,63 LAU/ha as average) and showed significant differences (p < 0,001) in the first two-month period March-April, with regards to the others. The average grazing intensity was 148 LAU/ha/day. The forage offer level showed average availabilities of 27,8 kg DM/animal/day. The grass cover showed a slight trend to decrease, although substantial increase of the quantity of species was observed by the end of the evaluation. The average grazing pressure was high (5,56 kg DM/100 kg LW/day), just like the percentage of pastureland utilization (75,0 %). The average optimum resting time for all the species was 47 days. Conclusions: The flexible management of Voisin rational grazing, with the determination of the optimum resting point, in cvs. Tanzania, Massai, Mulato II, Toledo and Llanero, produced changes in the management indicators, as well as in the stability of the plant species of the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim in this study was to determine the chemical composition, digestibility, and methane production of Echinochloa polystachya (Kunth) Hitch in periods with different rainfall in the Peruvian rainforest region. The pasture was managed under a rotational grazing system. The nutritive quality and in vitro CH4 production of the pasture during both experimental periods was determined from a sample obtained by zigzag technique and sampling points using the method of destructive systematic sampling. Echinochloa polystachya in the period of lower than higher rainfall had a higher content of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) (p < 0.001) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) (p < 0.001). Organic material (OM) was higher in the period of greater rainfall (p < 0.001); however, the crude protein (PC) content (p = 0.11), in vitro digestibility of OM (p = 0.89), corrected net gas production (p = 0.83) and in vitro CH4 output (p = 0.63) were similar for rainfall periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Agronomía & Ambiente is the property of Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Agro Productividad is the property of Colegio de Postgraduados and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article titled "Nutritional management of criollo pigs 'casco de mula' in a productive model of outdoor grazing as an alternative for economic development and rural sustainability" presents a strategy for small pig farmers who use criollo pigs and forage legumes in a rotational grazing system. Two treatments were evaluated to measure the efficiency of these alternative feeding strategies. The results showed that rotational grazing with Arachis pintoi and commercial concentrate resulted in higher weight gain and lower cost per concentrate consumption compared to confinement in deep bedding. This alternative nutritional management of criollo pigs 'casco de mula' in outdoor grazing can contribute to economic development and rural sustainability. [Extracted from the article]

The article titled "Effect of multiple supplement on productive performance in rearing heifers" presents a study conducted in Colombia to evaluate the effect of different amounts of supplement on crossbred heifers managed under rotational grazing. Twenty-four rearing heifers were used and distributed into four different treatments. The results showed that supplementation can improve economic profitability in rearing heifer production systems in the Colombian low tropics. However, it is important to ensure the quality and quantity of the basal diet required by the animals. [Extracted from the article]

This article explains the way to supervise the rotational grazing fieldu using image processing. The system facilitate the job development because rotation decisión is only for farmer with his experience define if it is ready or not for cut, and reduce times to define places without go over the fields. Image segmentation and it's treatment avoid determine an strategy to automate and select fields sistematically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Livestock production in pastures have deserved increasing interest in modern society, which is more concerned about environmental issues. This study aimed to validate the use of geoprocessing tools to aid the planning, implementation and utilization of intensive pasture systems in order to boost plant growth and prolong the period of use of pasture with better quality, ensuring not only greater income to the producer, but also increased conservation and recovery of grazing lands. This work was conducted in the city of Viamão, RS, Brasil, from June to November 2011, in areas with different uses (pastures, grasslands, reforestation areas). The GPS receivers were employed to survey points of the field. The data files were downloaded in TrackMacker® software to elaborated planimetric maps, performed with the help of GOOGLE EARTH® program. Then, the latitude, longitude and altitude were interpolated in software GOLDEN SURFER® 10, obtaining, thereby, planialtimetric maps. Based on these information, we made the subdivision of the pastures, considering the effective grazing surface, land slope and the access to water. We also defined exclusion areas; selected points for installation of new areas of water; collected soil material; and observed three cycles of use (an average of two days of permanence, followed by twenty days of rest) from different areas. These tools do not exclude the need for direct observation and monitoring, however, when they are properly employed, they act as facilitators, enabling a faster and more accurate management decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Este trabajo tuvo como objetivo caracterizar los cambios y la tendencia de indicadores relacionados con la estructura, la población y la composición en 19 accesiones de Panicum maximum cuando fueron sometidas a condiciones de pastoreo simulado. Las rotaciones se hicieron cada 32-40 días en el periodo lluvioso y 60-70 días en el poco lluvioso, con intensidad de pastoreo de 80-135 UGM/ha/día (los dos primeros años) y 120-160 UGM/ha/día (tercer año). Se utilizó un diseño de bloques al azar con tres repeticiones. Aunque en todos los tratamientos disminuyó la relación vástagos vivos/vástagos muertos, este cociente fue superior a uno, por lo que el ritmo de sustitución de vástagos fue favorable. En el 84,2% de los tratamientos se incrementó el número de macollas con relación a el estatus inicial. El porcentaje de arvenses aumentó con las rotaciones, pero ninguno de los tratamientos alcanzó un estado de deterioro avanzado. En este indicador se destacaron los tipos gigantes CIH-13, SIH-697, CIH-3, CC-1146 y SIH-10, con valores que variaron entre 4,6 y 14,1%, así como los tipos medianos CIH-15 y Tardío pequeño, con 10 y 12,3%, respectivamente. Se concluye que el germoplasma evaluado mostró valores adecuados, en función de los indicadores relacionados con la estructura de la macolla, la población y el porcentaje de invasión de las especies arvenses, aunque se identificó un alto contraste entre los tipos gigantes y medianos y dentro de estos grupos. Se sugiere analizar el resto de los indicadores productivos y con ello determinar los tipos más sobresalientes, sobre la base de los resultados en todos los indicadores incluidos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Evaluate the growth performance of young Romosinuano (ROMO) and Blanco Orejinegro (BON) bulls under a rotational grazing system. Materials and methods. The test was performed at the El Nus Experimental Facility, in the Colombian Andean region, where. 20 BON and 16 ROMO young bulls from fifteen commercial livestock farms were evaluated. The animals were kept as one whole group during 221 days in a rotational grazing strip with short occupation periods, out of which they were fed for 56 days through simple grazing and for 165 days under three different grazing phases with food supplements. Weight was taken at 28-day intervals and variables such as: weight evolution, total and daily weight gain, weight differences and the relationship between body weight and intake rate were evaluated. Results. The initial average weight for the BON breed was 180.4±36.9 kg for 9.6:1±1.74 months of age, and 171.8±32.6 kg for the ROMO breed at an average age of 10.1±3.2 months. The general increase for individuals between intervals was 0.497 kg/day for the BON breed and 0.366 kg/day for the ROMO breed. In the efficiency test the food intake rates were 64.8% and 71% for BON and ROMO respectively, which represent a dry matter intake of 0.47% and 0.53% in relation to live body weight. Conclusions. This work presents a higher performance in BON breed individuals compared to the ROMO breed and indicates a high variability in the response to a semi-intensive grazing system in those evaluated populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several variables were measured in pastures composed of associations of native grasses/legumes (Paspalum, Axonopus, Cynodon, Setaria, Desmodium and Calopogonium) and introduced species {Cynodon nlemfuensis, Brachiaria arrec-ta, Arachis pintoi). Pastures were placed under intensive rotational grazing (1-3 days of use; 36-60 days of recovery) by Holstein-Cebú cattle, during 3 13 days. 34 to 38 paddocks were sampled (1.1 ±0.2 ha/division) per season (northern-wind-NS, dry-DS and rainy-RS). Effects of season and month within season were tested. Botanical composition (%) was similar among seasons showing values of 49.3±0.02, 26.1 ±0.03, 12.5±0.04, 3.8±0.02, 6.0±0.02 and 2.3 ±0.01 for native grasses, Cynodon nlemfuensis, Brachiaria arrecta, legumes, and broad and narrow leafed weeds, respectively. The standing dry matter before grazing (SDMBG, kg/ha) was similar among seasons (2040 ±38); while the standing dry matter after grazing (SDM AG, kg/ ha) was similar between NS (1324±61) and DS (1468 ±78), both were lower than RS (1668 ± 66). The leaves had a higher content of crude protein than the stems in NS (1 1.7±0.5% vs. 5.7±0.5%) and RS (13.0±0.3% vs. 7.8±0.4%). Both, season and month within season did not affect dry matter availability (9.57±0.21 kg DM/100 kg LW). Apparent dry matter intake (kg DM/100 kg LW) in NS (2.42±0.19) was higher than that in DS (1.77±0.24), but similar to RS (1.96±0.20). The use (%) of the SDMBG in NS (33.1 ±0.1%) was higher than that in DS (23.4±0.1%)andRS(19.6±0.1%),withno difference between the last two. Season did not affect pasture growth rate (13.7± 1.9 kg DM/ ha/day). Results suggest that an intensive use of native grass-based pastures is possible without the detriment of their vegetation cover. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Milk production system from Jimaguayu municipality in Camaguey province, Cuba, were submitted to a four-period analysis comprising: I. An initial production development period (1959-1967) in a number of areas in Jimaguayú, in which the mayority of farms were involved in beef production and husbandry, grazing grounds were rotationally managed using low loads, and Andre Voisin's ideas had their starting point.- II Livestock infraestructure development and rotational grazing initial period (1968-1974). Characterized by the enhancement of a milk production development program within the region. All this was achieved by constructing dairy farms, rearing calves and breeding developing cattle, and even establishing human settlements and building paved way. III. Productive technology, creation of high utilies, and machinery use to support the milk production system productivity were the distinctive features marking this third period (1975-1990), which involved the use of forage grazing grounds, conservation through hay and silage, rotational grazing with a higher stabled cattle level, creation of scientific and technical working groups and grazing units as a new production structure. In this perios, there were some annual records on milk production ranging from 10 to 12 million kilograms, and birth rate reached values from 60 to 70%. IV. A Changing period in regards to the technological conception of the livestock milk production systems due to unfavorable economic conditions (1991-2062) in which cattle ranchers and dairy production center have developed a number of strategies for lower utilities making possible a significant increase in annual milk production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of technological changes in a commercial dairy farm are assessed from 1980 to 2002. This farm is located at 21° 17′ 31″ north latitude and 77° 47′ 30″ west longitude in Jimaguayú municipality, Camagüey province, Cuba. Its selection obeys to a high milk production index in the sampled years and, specially, to the introduction to the Voisan restricted grazing in an intermediate stage (1991-1995). The other two technologies introduced were rotational grazing with a low load and a supplementation of concentrate and bulk food (1980-1990), and rotational grazing with insufficient supplementation (1996-2002). Speaking on efficiency terms, the Voisin restricted grazing stage was the best, showing higher production indexes per hectare with low cost and heavier animal load. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The behavior of six improved grassies under cutting on a lower-fertility red-brownish ferromagnesial fersialitic soil was studied. A completely randomized design with three replicas consisting in 0,25 ha spots under grazing conditions every 30 to 35 days during rainy season and 40 to 50 days during dry season with 12 lambs/ha load was applied. Grassy species were fertilized with N, P, and K at a ratio of 100; 80 and 100 kg/ha/year, respectively. Nitrogen was fractionated during the rainy season. Availability was measured by rotational grazing, and botanical composition was determined at the initial and final stages of the experiment. Andropogon gayanus cv. CIAT 621 showed the highest dry matter availability, followed by Brachiaria decumbens cv. CIAT 606, which showed no significant differences in relation to Andropogon in the first year during the rainy season and the second and third years during the dry season. In contrast, Brachiaria purpurascens cv. Aguada showed the worst behavior to the above mentioned index. Andropogon and Brachiaria 606 endurance was higher (P<0,001), but the other species population decreased by the third year. It is recommended to spread Andropogon gayanus cv. CIAT 621 and Brachiaria decumbens cv. CIAT 606 over the region due to edaphic and climatic conditions in this place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]