Structure and nutritional value of pasture grasses of Tanzania and Marandu at 22 and 36 days of regrowth for sheep

Abstract

This research was conducted during the rainy season in the goats sector of the Department of Animal Science of Federal University of Piauí with the objective to evaluate the morphology and nutritive value of sward for sheep in pastures of Marandu and Tanzania at 22 and 36 days of growth. It were evaluated the herbage mass, sward height, percentage of leaf, stem and dead material, the chemical composition, digestibility and forage intake by sheep. The occurrence of dry spells during the regrowth period of 36 days, resulted in lower growth of plants, with no difference between ages for herbage mass, sward height and percentage of leaves. The extension of the growing season resulted in increased proportion of dead material in pasture, decrease in nutritional value of forage, with a reduction in crude protein content and digestibility and increased in neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber. Forage intake was similar among the grasses, whereas at 36 days of regrowth nutrient intake would be sufficient only for maintenance and the extension of regrowth period of 22 to 36 days leads to a reduction in forage intake by sheep due to a drop in forage quality, much of its nutritional value as the sward structure.