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The effect of pasture utilization on the defoliation of grass species by steers grazing a tropical savanna woodland during the dry season
Benvenutti, Marcelo; Bindelle, Jérôme; O'Reagain, Peter et al.
2010In Advances in Animal Biosciences, 1, p. 433-434
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Keywords :
pasture utilization; grazing; selectivity
Abstract :
[en] The relationship between grazing pressure and differences in the defoliation rate of grass species is not well understood for tropical savannas even though it is likely to have a substantial influence on the persistence of preferred species, pasture condition and sustainability of the grazing system. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between grass species characteristics and their defoliation rate in a paddock under increasing levels of utilization. Nine steers grazed a Eucalyptus savanna woodland for 14 days. Total pasture utilization reached 70% on day 13. The results confirm that with increasing pasture utilization, the defoliation rate of grasses varied among species. Bothriochloa pertusa (Bp) was the preferred species, with the highest levels of utilization after 5, 7 and 13 days. This species had the highest leaf/stem ratio and basal area (P<0.05), and intermediate stem tensile resistance, stem density, bulk density and plant height. These characteristics probably allowed the steers to achieve high nutrient intake rates. The steers avoided B. ewartiana possibly due to its tough stems and low leaf/stem ratio. In this tropical pasture the steers heavily grazed the preferred species at low to intermediate levels of overall pasture utilization (10 to 38%). In order to increase the utilization of less preferred species it was necessary to achieve high levels of pasture utilization (60 to 70%).
Disciplines :
Animal production & animal husbandry
Environmental sciences & ecology
Author, co-author :
Benvenutti, Marcelo;  INTA EEA Cerro Azul, Argentina
Bindelle, Jérôme  ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Sciences agronomiques > Zootechnie
O'Reagain, Peter;  AgriScience Queensland, DEEDI, Australia
Gordon, Iain;  Sustainable Ecosystems, CSIRO – Davies Laboratory, Australia
Mortimore, Christina;  Sustainable Ecosystems, CSIRO – Davies Laboratory, Australia
Isherwood, Peter;  Schools of Animal Studies and Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Australia
Poppi, Dennis;  Schools of Animal Studies and Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Australia
Language :
English
Title :
The effect of pasture utilization on the defoliation of grass species by steers grazing a tropical savanna woodland during the dry season
Publication date :
2010
Event name :
International Symposium on Sustainable Animal Production in the Tropics: Farming in a Changing World
Event organizer :
INRA-Antilles
Event place :
Le Gosier, Guadeloupe
Event date :
from 15-11-2010 to 18-11-2010
Audience :
International
Journal title :
Advances in Animal Biosciences
ISSN :
2040-4700
Publisher :
Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom
Volume :
1
Pages :
433-434
Peer reviewed :
Peer reviewed
Funders :
Meat & Livestock Australia - MLA
Available on ORBi :
since 15 December 2010

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