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The fertilization in rangelands has a positive effect in the forage production. The increased nitrogen (N) availability improves plant growth and forage quality of native pastures. However, in the Pampa biome conditions of Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil, these responses occur surprisingly fast and consistently. Therefore, the objective of this work was to quantify the N effect in the botanical composition of a natural pasture overseeded with annual ryegrass in Southern Brazil. The effects of three rates of N fertilization (zero, 100 and 200 kg N ha-1) were evaluated. Forage biomass was estimated on a monthly basis using the double sampling approach. The different botanical components of each forage sample were manually sorted in the laboratory. In order to calculate the Rényi diversity profile, two floristic composition evaluations were performed in the experimental area in December of 2010 and September of 2011. The ryegrass biomass production is highly affected by the N fertilization. The botanical composition of natural pastures modifies most probably by increasing ryegrass competition at early spring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite all the biotic and abiotic factors affecting foraging by ruminants, there is a common and fundamental process, which is bite gathering. We hypothesised that because the mechanics of bite formation dominate the foraging process, changes in short-term bite mass are reflected in longer-term animal performance across a wide range of sward conditions. We focus at the meal level of foraging, using experiments in which the effect of abiotic factors and digestive constrains are minimised, making intake rate the main currency. We estimated bite mass across a wide range of structural challenges to large-herbivore foraging in a long-term experiment with heterogeneous native grasslands. A conceptual model was developed for average daily gain, where energy gain and energy costs were proximate causal variables. Energy gain was a function of diet quality and components of daily intake rate, where bite mass was the main component estimated. In turn, components of intake rate were determined by sward structure and bodyweight. Energy costs were a function of bodyweight and abiotic conditions. Finally, sward structure, bodyweight and abiotic conditions were determined by experimental treatments, seasons and years. Then, the conceptual model was translated into statistical models that included variables measured or estimated, and coefficients representing all links in the conceptual model. Weight gain was a function of bite mass, forage characteristics, and animal and abiotic conditions. Models were set up to test whether forage and stocking conditions affected monthly gain beyond the effects through bite mass, after correcting for abiotic factors. Forage mass, height and disappearance did help predict monthly gain after bite mass was included in the model, which supported our hypothesis. However, stocking treatments and season had significant effects not incorporated in bite mass. Although the model explained 77.9% of liveweight gain variation, only 35.2% was due to fixed effects, with 10.8% accounted by bite mass and its interactions. Concomitant experiments showed that sward structure (first with sward height and the second with tussock cover) does determine bite mass and short-term intake rate in the complex native grasslands we studied. Yet, other temporal varying components of monthly gain not correlated with bite mass, temperature or wind, added most of the observed variation in monthly animal performance. Part of the model failure to account for variation in performance may be related to a significant and temporally variable grazing of tussocks. We used a bite mass model that assumed no tussock grazing. In light of these results and a parallel experiment, we conclude that tussock grazing must be incorporated in future versions of the model. We investigated whether longer-term animal performance can be explained by changes in short-term grazing processes in a heterogeneous native grassland. Although bite mass and its interactions accounted for 10.8% of the variation in average daily gain, stocking treatments and season had significant effects not incorporated in bite mass. We conclude that a large portion of the variation in performance may be related to temporally variable grazing of tussocks and changes in diet quality not contemplated in the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Winter forage deficit is a recurrent issue in rangelands of southern Brazil, generating nutritional deficiencies to herbivores kept in such conditions, being more decisive in shallow soils. We studied 12 combinations of fertilization and liming related to autumn grazing deferment of rangeland on shallow basaltic soil in order to accumulate forage for use in winter. No significant differences were (P<0,05) observed in total forage mass (MF) and green forage mass (MFV) as a function of treatment. A quadratic effect for MF and MFV according to the time of deferral, and the maximum accumulation occurred at 96 days (2965 Kg.ha-1 and 1446 Kg.ha-1, respectively). The dead material increased linearly with time. With multivariate analysis we can see that these variables were influenced by the soil depth of the plots. The greater depth were associated with higher MF and lower amount of bare ground. In plots of shallower soil (< 5 cm) ruderal species predominated, with forage value lower than what prevailed in deeper soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grazing intensity is the key component of the interrelations between plants and their environment in pastoral ecosystems. In this way, the natural structural and floristic heterogeneity that is a response to soil variability can be modified by grazing. But the degree of such alterations must to be controlled in order to maintain ecosystems services and at same time to offers an adequate nutritional environment to the herbivores. In this paper we summarize some results from a series of experiments conducted in natural pastures from south Brazil, to demonstrate how grazing control can modified structural pasture characteristics, enhancing animal performance, soil quality, water infiltration, and producing a meat with particular fatty acids composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Variáveis morfogênicas e estruturais foram quantificadas a partir da técnica de "perfilhos marcados" no período de agosto a outubro de 1999 numa pastagem de azevém anual, mantida em quatro diferentes alturas (5, 10, 15 e 20 cm) através de lotação contínua em carga variável com ovinos. O delineamento experimental foi o de blocos completos casualizados com três repetições. Utilizaram-se 50 perfilhos marcados por unidade experimental, distribuídos ao longo de transectas. As observações foram efetuadas em dois períodos: no primeiro, da entrada dos animais até a obtenção das alturas pretendidas, não se observaram diferenças entre os tratamentos. No segundo (fase de estabilização das alturas pretendidas), a taxa de elongação foliar, o comprimento da lâmina verde total por perfilho e o tamanho das folhas apresentaram resposta positiva frente a maiores alturas de manejo, enquanto o tempo de elongação da lâmina foliar diminui com a altura. As variáveis taxa de surgimento de folhas, tempo de vida das folhas, densidade populacional de perfilhos e número de folhas vivas por perfilho não foram afetadas pelos tratamentos.

We investigated the influence of the level of fresh alfalfa supplementation on fat skatole and indole concentration and chop sensory attributes in grazing lambs. Four groups of nine male Romane lambs grazing a cocksfoot pasture were supplemented with various levels of alfalfa for at least 60 days before slaughter. Perirenal fat skatole concentration was higher for lambs that consumed alfalfa than for those that consumed only cocksfoot. The intensity of ‘animal’ odour in the lean part of the chop and of ‘animal’ flavour in both the lean and fat parts of the chop, evaluated by a trained sensory panel, increased from the lowest level of alfalfa supplementation onwards and did not increase further with increasing levels of alfalfa supplementation. The outcome of this study therefore suggests that these sensory attributes may reach a plateau when perirenal fat skatole concentration is in the range 0.16–0.24 μg/g of liquid fat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The soil microbial biomass is the living fraction of organic matter, being responsible for several biological and biochemical processes of the soil and influenced by the conditions imposed by the environment. To evaluate the effect of grazing on changes in soil microbial attributes we studied four grazing intensities based on natural grassland of Pampa Biome: 4, 8, 12 and 16 kg of dry matter per day per 100 kg of animal live weight, compared to an area without grazing. We used rand omized block design with two replications. Samples were taken on 11/23/20 11 and analyzed to determi ne the levels of soil organic matter (SOM), microbial biomass, nitrogen, respiration and metabolic quotient. The results showed that at intermediate grazing intensities, such as 12%, minor disturbances occur in soil microbial biomass compared to other intensities, emit less CO2 into the atmosphere for each animal unit produced. The levels of organic matter and soil microbial biomass systems are lower in grazed than in areas excluded from grazing for a long period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]