<b>Production and nutrition rates of piatã grass and hybrid sorghum at different cutting ages</b> - doi: 10.4025/actascianimsci.v35i3.18016

• Main Authors: Luciano da Silva Cabral, Manuel Cláudio Motta Macedo, Roberto Giolo de Almeida, Joadil Gonçalves de Abreu, Andréia Da Cruz Quintino, Rosemary Laís Galati
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Editora da Universidade Estadual de Maringá (Eduem) 2013-07-01
• Series: Acta Scientiarum: Animal Sciences
• Subjects: Brachiaria brizantha; crop-livestock integration; mixed pastures
• Online Access: http://www.periodicos.uem.br/ojs/index.php/ActaSciAnimSci/article/view/18016

<p>The influence of cutting age on yield and nutrition rates of piatã grass (<em>Brachiaria brizantha</em> cv. BRS Piatã) and hybrid sorghum (<em>Sorghum</em> spp. cv. BRS 801) under an integrated crop-livestock system was evaluated. The trial was carried out at the Embrapa Beef Cattle (20°27¢ S; 54°37¢ W) in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil, between April and October 2009. Experimental design consisted of randomized blocks with four replicates. Treatments were distributed across a split-plot design, which included three production systems (single piatã grass; single hybrid sorghum; mixed cultivation of sorghum and piatã grass). Half-plots consisted of three forage ages at harvest (with 70, 90 and 110 days after seeding). Variables included agronomical characteristics, productivity and nutrition value. Regardless of the evaluated systems, cutting age affected agronomical characteristics and <em>in vitro</em> digestibility of organic matter (IVDOM). Production was highest (4,048 kg ha^-1) within the integrated system. Regardless of cutting age, monoculture sorghum had the highest crude protein level. Results showed that integrated sorghum and piatã grasses were an asset for forage productivity. Forages had higher rates in crude protein and in <em>in vitro</em> digestibility of organic matter on the 70^th day after seeding.</p> <p class="apalavrachave"> </p><p> </p>