Beef cattle performance in response to Ipyporã and Marandu brachiariagrass cultivars under rotational stocking management

ABSTRACT The objective of this two-year study was to evaluate live weight gain per animal and per area and their relationships with the characteristics of BRS Ipyporã (Brachiaria ruziziensis × Brachiaria brizantha) and Marandu (Brachiaria brizantha) pastures. A completely randomized block design was used with two treatments and four replicates. The grazing method was rotational stocking, with variable stocking rate. Stocking rate was adjusted twice a week during the grazing period (six or seven days) and post-grazing canopy height target of 15 cm. Animals were weighed every 28 days. Pastures were evaluated pre-grazing to estimate forage accumulation rate, forage mass (FM), leaf (LP) and stem (SP) percentages, and nutritive value. In the post-grazing, FM, LP, and SP were evaluated. Marandu palisadegrass pastures had greater FAR, pre-grazing FM, and hence, a greater SR when compared with BRS Ipyporã. However, compared with Marandu, BRS Ipyporã showed greater LP, leaf:stem ratio, crude protein, and in vitro organic matter digestibility, resulting in greater individual live weight gain. The lesser stocking rate in Ipyporã pastures was compensated, providing a greater individual live weight gain of steers, resulting in a similar live weight gain per area for the two cultivars. Thus, BRS Ipyporã is a good alternative for the diversification of pastures in the Cerrado region.