Título:	Canopy Characteristics of Gamba Grass Cultivars and Their Effects on the Weight Gain of Beef Cattle under Grazing.
Autoria:	BRAGA, G. J. RAMOS, A. K. B. CARVALHO, M. A. FONSECA, C. E. L. da KARIA, C. T.
Afiliação:	GUSTAVO JOSE BRAGA, CPAC; ALLAN KARDEC BRAGA RAMOS, CPAC; MARCELO AYRES CARVALHO, CPAC; CARLOS EDUARDO LAZARINI DA FONSECA, CPAC; CLAUDIO TAKAO KARIA, CPAC.
Ano de publicação:	2024
Referência:	Agronomy, v. 14, n. 10, 2293, 2024.
Conteúdo:	Gamba grass (Andropogon gayanus Kunth) is a tussock-forming forage species adapted to acid soils of Brazilian savannas and cultivated for grazing pastures. Four decades since its release, Planaltina prevails as the most commercialized cultivar of the species, even though the new cultivar BRS Sarandi could be a better alternative for Gamba-grass-based farms by presenting a greater leaf:stem ratio. The objective of this study was to evaluate the average daily live weight gain (ADG) of Nellore bulls (Bos indicus) for two Gamba grass cultivars—Planaltina and Sarandi. The experiment was conducted in Planaltina, Federal District, Brazil, for 3 years, namely 2018, 2018–2019, and 2020. The experimental design was a completely randomized block design with two treatments and three replicates, each one continuously stocked at three stocking rates (SR)—1.3, 2.6, and 4 young bulls/ha. Canopy height (CH), forage mass (FM), plant-part proportion (green leaf, stem, and dead material), and nutritive value were evaluated. In 2018, mean ADG for Sarandi pastures was greater (0.690 kg/bull/d) than that of Planaltina (0.490 kg/bull/d) (p < 0.10). In the subsequent year (2018–2019), there was no effect of cultivar (p > 0.10), while in 2020 the ADG was again affected by cultivar (p < 0.10), confirming the advantage of Sarandi (0.790 kg/bull/d) over Planaltina (0.650 kg/bull/d). In 2018 and 2020, the percentage of stems for Sarandi was about 3–6 pp less than for Planaltina (p < 0.10). As well as for stems, Sarandi pastures presented a shorter CH in 2028 and 2020 (6–7%) (p < 0.10). The positive high correlation of leaf:stem ratio with ADG (r = 0.70) probably predisposed the superiority of Sarandi over Planaltina. The distinguishing plant-part composition of Sarandi canopy promotes increasing weight gain of beef cattle when compared to cv. Planaltina.
Thesagro:	Andropogon Gayanus Forragem Capim Gado Nelore
Palavras-chave:	BRS Sarandi Capim Gamba
Digital Object Identifier:	https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14102293
Tipo do material:	Artigo de periódico
Acesso:	openAccess
Aparece nas coleções:	Artigo em periódico indexado (CPAC)