Pasture availability and dry matter intake of lactating crossbred cows grazing elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum, Schum.). Aroeira, L., J., M., Lopes, F., C., F., Deresz, F., Verneque, R., S., Dayrell, M., S., Matos, L., L., d., Maldonado-Vasquez, H., & Vittori, A. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 78(3):313-324, 7, 1999.
Pasture availability and dry matter intake of lactating crossbred cows grazing elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum, Schum.) [link]Website  abstract   bibtex   
The trial was carried out in Brazil, from April 1992 to October 1993. Availability and voluntary dry matter intake (DMI) of elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) were evaluated, using three groups of 24 crossbred lactating cows, grazing (4.5 cows/ha), during three days, paddocks varying in size (607, 494 and 417 m2) according to the resting periods adopted. The following treatments were studied: resting period of 30 days without (30W) and resting periods of 30 (30C), 37.5 (37.5C) and 45 (45C) days with 2 kg/day (20.6% crude protein CP) concentrate supplement. From October to June the elephant grass was the sole forage, while during the dry season, cows received sugarcane plus 1% urea as roughage supplement. The average chemical composition of sugarcane mixture was: 10.1% CP, 52.5% neutral detergent fiber (NDF), 31.6% acid detergent fiber (ADF), 58.5% in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) and the average daily intake was 1.3 ± 0.2% of body weight (BW). Mean elephant grass availabilities of paddocks 45C (2423±92 kg of DM/ha) was greater (p < 0.05) than (1745 and 1939 ± 92 kg of DM/ha) observed, respectively, for resting periods of 30 and 37.5 days. Daily herbage allowance was similar among treatments (11.3 ± 0.45 kg of DM/cow), but varied according to the season and year, being higher in summer, intermediate in autumn and spring and lower in winter. As the dry season was more severe in winter and spring 1993, daily herbage allowance was smaller than that in 1992. Extrusa composition was affected by the resting period (p < 0.05), CP content decreased (0.1%) and NDF increased (0.09%) for each day beyond the 30th day of the resting periods. Total DMI estimated using chromic oxide, was lower (p < 0.05) for non-supplemented (2.7 ± 0.12% BW) than supplemented animals (3.0 ± 0.12% BW). The elephant grass DMI varied from 1.2% (winter) and 3.7 ± 0.10% BW (summer) being similar among experimental treatments, except during the summer. In that season elephant grass DMI was smaller only in 45C in relation to 37.5C, while those observed in 30W and 30C were similar and did not differ from 37.5C. The average daily milk production (11.4 kg/cow) did not vary among treatments. Although the 30 day resting period resulted in a better quality herbage intake, it did not reflect a higher DMI or milk production. The season and, consequently, the amount of rainfall influenced the results during the year.
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 title = {Pasture availability and dry matter intake of lactating crossbred cows grazing elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum, Schum.)},
 type = {article},
 year = {1999},
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 keywords = {Crossbred dairy cows,Pennisetum purpureum,Rotational grazing,Sugarcane,Voluntary intake},
 pages = {313-324},
 volume = {78},
 websites = {http://www.animalfeedscience.com/article/S0377840198002703/abstract},
 month = {7},
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 language = {English},
 abstract = {The trial was carried out in Brazil, from April 1992 to October 1993. Availability and voluntary dry matter intake (DMI) of elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) were evaluated, using three groups of 24 crossbred lactating cows, grazing (4.5 cows/ha), during three days, paddocks varying in size (607, 494 and 417 m2) according to the resting periods adopted. The following treatments were studied: resting period of 30 days without (30W) and resting periods of 30 (30C), 37.5 (37.5C) and 45 (45C) days with 2 kg/day (20.6% crude protein CP) concentrate supplement. From October to June the elephant grass was the sole forage, while during the dry season, cows received sugarcane plus 1% urea as roughage supplement. The average chemical composition of sugarcane mixture was: 10.1% CP, 52.5% neutral detergent fiber (NDF), 31.6% acid detergent fiber (ADF), 58.5% in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) and the average daily intake was 1.3 ± 0.2% of body weight (BW). Mean elephant grass availabilities of paddocks 45C (2423±92 kg of DM/ha) was greater (p < 0.05) than (1745 and 1939 ± 92 kg of DM/ha) observed, respectively, for resting periods of 30 and 37.5 days. Daily herbage allowance was similar among treatments (11.3 ± 0.45 kg of DM/cow), but varied according to the season and year, being higher in summer, intermediate in autumn and spring and lower in winter. As the dry season was more severe in winter and spring 1993, daily herbage allowance was smaller than that in 1992. Extrusa composition was affected by the resting period (p < 0.05), CP content decreased (0.1%) and NDF increased (0.09%) for each day beyond the 30th day of the resting periods. Total DMI estimated using chromic oxide, was lower (p < 0.05) for non-supplemented (2.7 ± 0.12% BW) than supplemented animals (3.0 ± 0.12% BW). The elephant grass DMI varied from 1.2% (winter) and 3.7 ± 0.10% BW (summer) being similar among experimental treatments, except during the summer. In that season elephant grass DMI was smaller only in 45C in relation to 37.5C, while those observed in 30W and 30C were similar and did not differ from 37.5C. The average daily milk production (11.4 kg/cow) did not vary among treatments. Although the 30 day resting period resulted in a better quality herbage intake, it did not reflect a higher DMI or milk production. The season and, consequently, the amount of rainfall influenced the results during the year.},
 bibtype = {article},
 author = {Aroeira, L J M and Lopes, F C F and Deresz, F and Verneque, R S and Dayrell, M S and Matos, L L de and Maldonado-Vasquez, H and Vittori, A},
 journal = {Animal Feed Science and Technology},
 number = {3}
}

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