Desempenho de novilhos recriados em pastagens de estrela africana irrigada e consorciada com gramíneas e leguminosas temperadas

Abstract

One of the largest beef cattle breeding systems is exclusive grazing, and the technification of the environment with technologies such as irrigation and intercropping with legumes is of paramount importance for improving pasture quality and productivity. Thus, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of irrigation use and intercropping between temperate grasses and legumes on pasture production and animal performance. The present work was carried out at the Ruminant Research Center of the Federal Technological University of Paraná - Campus Dois Vizinhos. The base pasture used was the African Star (Cynodon nlemfuensis Vanderyst) and the consortium legume was the horn (Lotus corniculatus), using an area of 3.5ha divided into twelve modules. The experimental design was completely randomized and with three replications (modules with 4 pickets). The treatments were divided into seasons: winter, spring and summer: IRRIGATED GRASS (IG) = Oats + Ryegrass + Irrigation + African Star; IRRIGATED VEGETABLE GRASS (GLI) = Oats + Ryegrass + Irrigation + Corniche + African Star; GRASS (G) = Oats + Ryegrass + African Star; VEGETABLE GRASS (GL) = Oats + Ryegrass + African Star + Horn. The seasons were as follows, winter 72 days, spring 90 days and summer 76 days. Twenty-four crossbred steers with an average age of 8 months and an average live weight of 200 kg were used in a rotating stocking system. Each module consisted of four paddocks with dimensions of 700 m2/picket, considering the entry criterion. in pastures, the height of 25 to 30cm in winter and 30 to 35cm in spring and summer pastures and leaves with 50% of the height of entry. For forage yield sampling, pre and post grazing were performed on pasture number 3 of each module. To monitor the weight of the animals, weighings were performed in each season. There was no statistical difference for forage yield and daily accumulation rate in any of the treatments in question. There was no statistical difference for initial weight, animal load and live weight gain per hectare. They were statistically different only in summer for the variables daily average gain and final weight. We conclude that the use of irrigation in conjunction with the legume positively influenced the average daily gain and final weight in summer. Irrigation that can be used as a strategic tool to reduce the seasonality of tropical fodder under water restriction and unfavorable temperatures. And legumes such as food diversification, increased nutritional value and biological nitrogen fixation.