Objetivou-se avaliar como diferentes estratégias de manejo do pasto de azevém anual interferem na produção animal, no consumo de forragem e na emissão de metano por ovinos em sistema de integração lavoura-pecuária (SILP) (Capítulo II). Já no Capítulo III objetivou-se avaliar as técnicas dos nalcanos e do nitrogênio fecal na estimativa do consumo de forragem por ovinos em pastos de azevém anual. Os experimentos foram conduzidos nos anos de 2011 e 2012 na Estação Experimental da UFRGS. Foram utilizados ovinos em um SILP de soja e milho no verão, em rotação com azevém anual no inverno. Para ambos os Capítulos (II e III) foram estudados dois métodos de pastoreio (contínuo e rotativo) e duas intensidades de pastejo (moderada e baixa; 2,5 e 5 vezes o potencial de consumo de matéria seca, respectivamente) em um delineamento de blocos casualizados com 3 repetições. Para o Capítulo II, no primeiro experimento os animais experimentais eram cordeiros, enquanto no segundo foram ovelhas em lactação. Os resultados indicaram que o ganho médio diário (GMD) dos cordeiros foi maior (P<0,05) no método de pastoreio continuo que no método de pastoreio rotativo, independente da intensidade de pastejo. O ganho de peso vivo por área (GPV) apresentou a mesma resposta em ambos os experimentos, com maior GPV na intensidade de pastejo moderada (P<0,05). No experimento 1, o consumo de matéria seca (CMS) foi maior para o método de pastoreio continuo, enquanto no experimento 2 não houve diferenças entre métodos e intensidades. As emissões de CH4 diárias por animal não diferiram entre tratamentos em ambos os experimentos (P>0,05), porém, quando expressas em g CH4 kg GPV-1 as emissões foram em média 15,33% maiores (P<0.05) para o método de pastoreio rotativo, independente da intensidade de pastejo. Os resultados afirmam que as emissões de metano por animal não são afetadas pelos tratamentos impostos. Porém, do ponto de vista de sistema o método de pastoreio contínuo o mais eficiente, por apresentar menor emissão de metano por kg de ganho de peso vivo, independente da intensidade de pastejo. Para o Capítulo III, foram utilizados apenas cordeiros. Utilizou-se a metodologia dos n-alcanos e do nitrogênio fecal, por meio de coleta total de fezes com o auxílio de bolsas coletoras. Na avaliação entre os n-alcanos, verificou-se melhores resultados quando utilizando o par C31:C32. Para a metodologia do nitrogênio fecal, as equações propostas por Wang et al. (2009) e por Azevedo (2011) foram as melhores (P<0,05). A técnica do nitrogênio fecal mostrou-se mais acurado do que o uso dos n-alcanos, que superestimou os valores de consumo. / The aim of this study was to evaluate how different management strategies of Italian ryegrass affects animal production, forage intake and methane emissions by sheep in integrated crop-livestock system (ICLS) (Chapter II). In Chapter III, we aimed to evaluate the techniques of n-alkanes and fecal nitrogen in estimating forage intake by sheep grazing on ryegrass. The experiments were conducted in 2011 and 2012 at the UFRGS Experimental Station. The ICLS soybeans and corn crops in summer, in rotation with grazed Italian ryegrass in winter. For both chapters (II and III) two stocking methods (continuous or rotational) and two grazing intensities (moderate and low, 2.5 and 5 times the potential dry matter intake, respectively) were studied in a randomized block design with three replications. In Chapter II, in the first experiment, the experimental animals were lambs, while in the second were lactating ewes. The results indicated that the average daily gain (ADG) of lambs was higher (P<0.05) in the continuous method than in rotational grazing method, regardless of grazing intensity. The live weight gain per area (LWG) showed the same response in both experiments, with higher LWG values in moderate grazing intensity (P<0.05). In experiment I, higher dry matter intake (DMI) values were obtained under continuous grazing, while in experiment II, there no differences between methods and intensities. CH4 emissions per animal and per day did not differ between treatments in both experiments (P>0.05), but when expressed in g CH4 kg-1 LWG emissions were, on average, 15.33% higher (P<0.05) for rotational grazing method, regardless of grazing intensity. Methane emissions per animal were not affected by the treatments applied. However, from system point of view, the continuous grazing method is more efficient, since lower methane emissions per kg of LWG, regardless of grazing intensity, were obtained. In Chapter III, were used only lambs. The methodologies of n-alkanes and fecal nitrogen, were applied through total collection with dung bags. In relation to n-alkanes, better results were obtained when using the pair C31:C32. For the methodology of fecal nitrogen, the equations proposed by Wang et al. (2009) and Azevedo (2011) were the best (P<0.05). The technique of fecal nitrogen proved to be more accurate than the use of n-alkanes, which overestimated the intake.

Harvest weed seed control (HWSC) methods concentrate, remove, or destroy weed seeds captured by the combine during harvest. Furthermore, chaff lining uses a chute fitted on the back of a combine to concentrate chaff and weed seed therein into a narrow line. Since chaff amount increases with crop yield, studies aimed to determine how varying crop yield and the associated chaff amount will affect chaff lining control of select weed species, while also examining subsequent crop performance. Objective 1 of this work focused on wheat chaff lining (WCL), and objective 2 studied soybean chaff lining (SCL). Weed species of interest included wild mustard (Sinapis arvensis L.) and Italian ryegrass (Lolium perenne ssp. multiflorum L. Husnot) in WCL and Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri S.) and common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) subject to SCL. Each weed species was evaluated in separate experiments, and the SCL experiment included an additional factor of with and without a cereal rye cover crop treatment. Chaff lines mimicked harvest across a range of wheat and soybean yields, with equal weed seed additions (based on existing fecundity and seed shatter phenology data) to each chaff line. A conventional harvest (control) and an outside-the-chaff-line treatment were included, where total fecundity or weed seed rain occurring prior to harvest based on weed species were broadcast respectively. Inhibition of crop and weed emergence as a function of yield and the associated chaff amount was also investigated in the greenhouse. Crop yield across treatments at the field scale (accounts for both chaff lines and outside-the-chaff-line), was not affected in double-crop soybean following WCL and full-season soybean following SCL. Field scale wheat yield in WCL compared to conventional harvest was not different, increased, or decreased in 8, 3, and 1 site-years, respectively. WCL reduced total weed emergence over the combined double-crop soybean and winter wheat growing seasons by 43-54% at the field scale. SCL reduced common ragweed emergence in cereal rye by 64% and 85% in 2 of 3 locations across the soybean growing season. The cover crop did not reduce common ragweed emergence while it was growing, but residual mulch in soybean reduced emergence by 39%. No differences were observed in Palmer amaranth emergence during cereal rye growth, however cereal rye decreased total emergence by 41%. In 6 of 7 Palmer amaranth location-years, SCL decreased field scale weed emergence in soybean by 81%. These results indicate chaff may create an unfavorable environment for weed seed emergence. In both WCL and SCL, greater amounts of chaff caused larger reductions in weed emergence. Objective 3 focused on quantifying the above-ground biomass breakdown of soybean plants into chaff, straw, and seed fractions as they are processed and dispensed by various harvesters. Depending on HWSC system, chaff and straw residues may also be destroyed, removed, or concentrated. Therefore, chaff and straw nutrient composition was analyzed to evaluate the nutrient and economic consequences of HWSC. Our results show average soybean harvest index is 0.57:1. Furthermore, chaff and straw residues equal 13.4% and 68.5% of the seed weight, respectively. Using 5-year average fertilizer prices (2017 – 2021), replacement of N, P, K and S in chaff, straw, and the combination of both residues costs USD 1.58, USD 5.88, and USD 7.46, respectively. / Master of Science in Life Sciences / In conventional wheat and soybean production, the primary means of weed control is herbicides. If herbicide use is not diversified, a repeated selection pressure drives weeds to evolve resistance to such chemistries. Producers and researchers alike are constantly looking for new ways to combat weeds and herbicide-resistant issues. Originally developed to control nuisance weeds in Australia, harvest weed seed control (HWSC) offers promise in aiding our current herbicide resistance crisis. To further explain HWSC, it is important to know the harvesting mechanism. Many of the row crops including corn, soybean and wheat are harvested using a combine. Combines cut below or tear off plant material to capture the grain or seed which is processed via a threshing system and separated into three fractions: the seed, chaff, and straw. The grain is allocated to a storage bin and eventually removed from the field. In conventional harvest, the remaining crop residue is spread evenly behind the combine across the field to ensure a balanced distribution of organic matter, nutrients, and residue across the field. There is however more than chaff and straw being dispersed. Weeds present in the field at harvest whose seed is retained at crop maturity and at an elevation above the combine header height will inherently end up inside the combine. HWSC are methods intended to capitalize on the combine capturing weed seeds during harvest. Many HWSC approaches to managing weed seed exist, including destruction, removal and concentration of weed seed. Most of this research focuses on only one method of HWSC, chaff lining. Chaff lining utilizes a chute fitted onto the back of the combine and concentrates weed seed and the chaff fraction only into a narrow line behind the combine. Although not directly known, chaff may inhibit future weed emergence within the line due to a mulching effect, intraspecific competition, a greater degree of rotting and increased seed predators. The chute is inexpensive to construct, and there are no additional labor requirements at harvest making it an appealing HWSC option. There is a limited amount of research on chaff lining in North American cropping systems making it a prime HWSC candidate for this thesis. We were curious if chaff lining could benefit wheat and soybean farmers and if crop yield and the associated chaff amount deposited in chaff lines would have any impact on crops planted and weeds placed in lines. Our results indicate chaff lining does not cause field scale yield consequence in double-crop and full-season soybean following wheat and soybean chaff lining, respectively. The effect of wheat chaff lining on wheat field scale yield was variable, but only caused a yield decrease in 1 of 12 experimental locations. Reductions in weed emergence in chaff lining systems compared to conventional indicate chaff may alter the environment to be unfavorable for weed seed emergence. The final objective of this thesis investigates the economic cost of nutrient loss among HWSC systems. Using average fertilizer prices, the cost to apply N, P, K and S concentrated or lost during HWSC in chaff, straw, and the combination of both residues is USD 1.58, USD 5.88, and USD 7.46, respectively.

No Instituto de Zootecnia, Nova Odessa, SP, em uma pastagem de capim-aruana (Panicum maximum Jacq. cv. Aruana) utilizada com ovinos em sistema intensivo de produção (irrigação, adubação e lotação rotacionada), foram sobre-semeadas as espécies forrageiras de inverno: aveia preta (Avena strigosa Schreb cv. Comum), azevém anual (Lolium multiflorum Lam. cv. Comum) e trevo branco (Trifolium repens L. cv. Zapicán) com o objetivo de suprir o déficit e melhorar o valor nutritivo da forragem no período crítico do ano. A sobre-semeadura foi efetuada em 14/04/00 e 07/06/01 no primeiro e segundo anos do experimento, respectivamente. Nos dois anos (14/04/00 a 18/01/01 e 07/06/01 a 22/02/02) foram avaliados, em seis períodos de pastejo: massa total de forragem pré-pastejo, sua composição botânica e porcentagem de lâminas foliares, massa de forragem pós-pastejo, acúmulo de forragem (AF) e taxa média diária de acúmulo de forragem (TMDAF) em cada período de rebrotação, altura do dossel forrageiro pré e pós-pastejo, características químicas: proteína bruta (PB), fibra em detergente neutro (FDN), fibra em detergente ácido (FDA), lignina e digestibilidade "in vitro" da matéria seca (DIVMS), nas amostras da massa total de forragem e nas dos componentes botânicos (aruana, aveia preta e azevém) pré-pastejo. O delineamento experimental foi o de blocos completos casualizados (quatro), com duas repetições dentro do bloco e dois tratamentos: 1) capim-aruana exclusivo (AE) e 2) sobre-semeadura da mistura das três espécies forrageiras de inverno (MFI). Os blocos eram pastejados pelo mesmo lote de animais, em sequência, por dois a três dias, até atingir 10 a 15 cm. O trevo-branco não se estabeleceu em ambos os anos. No primeiro ano, a pastagem MFI apresentou maior massa total de forragem do que a pastagem AE no segundo período e na média dos seis períodos. A aveia apresentou a maior contribuição no segundo período e o azevém no terceiro. As pastagens com a MFI apresentaram maiores AF e TMDAF que as pastagens de AE no segundo, quinto e na média dos seis períodos. A PB da forragem na pastagem de capim-aruana exclusivo foi maior em relação à sobre-semeada no terceiro período de pastejo e semelhante nos demais. A PB dos componentes aveia e azevém, no terceiro período, foi menor em relação aos do primeiro e segundo. FDN, FDA e lignina da forragem no tratamento exclusivo foram mais elevados em relação aos do tratamento sobre-semeado, na média dos seis períodos. Aveia e azevém apresentaram FDN mais baixos nos períodos iniciais de crescimento, com aumento no último. A digestibilidade da forragem foi semelhante nos dois tratamentos, em todos os períodos de avaliação. No segundo ano, a massa total de forragem apresentou quantidades semelhantes entre as duas pastagens ao longo dos seis períodos e na sua média. A aveia esteve mais presente no primeiro período e o azevém no terceiro. Não houve diferença entre tipos de pastagem para AF e TMDAF em nenhum dos seis períodos, nem na sua média. Para o componente aruana a porcentagem de lâminas foi semelhante entre os dois tipos de pastagem e para a aveia e azevém, as menores porcentagens ocorreram no período final dos seus ciclos vegetativos, em ambos os anos. O teor de PB da massa total de forragem da pastagem de capim-aruana exclusivo foi maior que o da pastagem sobre-semeada, no quarto período mas semelhante nos demais e na média dos períodos. Os teores de PB da aveia e do azevém decresceram ao longo dos períodos de pastejo. Os teores de FDN, FDA, lignina e DIVMS da forragem foram semelhantes entre as duas pastagens na média e ao longo dos seis períodos, exceto para FDN no segundo período. A aveia e o azevém apresentaram os maiores teores de FDN, FDA e lignina no último período de pastejo. A DIVMS do azevém manteve-se constante nos dois primeiros períodos de pastejo diminuindo no último. Pastos de capim-aruana convenientemente adubados e irrigados, que recebam sobre-semeadura com espécies forrageiras de inverno, produzem mais forragem no período crítico mas com valor nutritivo semelhante em relação a pastos não sobre-semeados, nas condições do Estado de São Paulo. Pastos deste capim, não sobre-semeados, mas que recebam adubação e irrigação também apresentam boa produção e valor nutritivo nesta época. / At Instituto de Zootecnia, Nova Odessa, SP, in a pasture of aruanagrass (Panicum maximum Jacq. cv. Aruana), grazed by sheep in an intensive production system (irrigation, fertilization and rotational stocking), it was introduced a three winter forage species: black oat (Avena strigosa Schreb. cv. Common), italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam. cv. Common) and white clover (Trifolium repens L. cv. Zapican) with the objective of increasing the forage supply and its nutritive value during the dry winter period. The mixture was broadcasted sown over the grass on 04-14-00 and 06-07-01 in two years of experiment. From 04-14-00 to 01-18-01 and 06-07-01 to 02-22-02 it was evaluated, in six annual grazing periods, the forage mass, its botanical composition and leaf blades percentage pre grazing, residual mass post grazing, forage accumulation (FA) and mean forage accumulation daily rate (MFADR) in each regrowth period and sward heigth pre and post grazing, the chemical characteristics: crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), lignin and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) in the forage on offer and in its botanical components. The experimental design was a completely randomized block (four) with two replications within the block. The treatments were: 1) grass alone and 2) the grass oversown with the mixture of the winter forages. The blocks were grazed by the same group of sheep in sequence for two or three days until the sward height reached to 10-15 cm. The white clover did not establish. In the first year the oversown treatment presented higher total forage mass than the control in the second periods and in the mean of the six periods. The black oat presented higher contribution in the second period and italian ryegrass in the third. The oversown pastures presented higher FA and MFADR than the single aruanagrass pastures, in the second, fifth and in the mean of the six periods. The CP in the forage from the grass pasture alone was greater than the one of the oversown pasture in the third period, and similar in the others. Oat and ryegrass CP was lower in the third period than the ones of the first and second ones. NDF, ADF and lignin in the forage from the grass pasture alone were greater than the ones of the oversown pasture. Oat and ryegrass NDF was lowest in the initial growth periods, increasing in the final. Forage IVDMD from the two treatments were similar in all evaluation periods. In the second year, the total forage mass was similar in the two pasture treatments in all grazing periods and in their means. The black oat contribution was higher in the first period and the one of italian ryegrass in the third. The FA and the MFADR were similar in the two pasture systems. The leaf blades percentage of aruanagrass was similar in the two pastures in all periods and the ones of black oat and italian ryegrass were lower in the final period compared to the preceeding ones, in the two years. The CP in the forage from the grass pasture alone was greater than the one of the oversown pasture in the fourth period, and similar in the others. Oat and ryegrass CP decreased along the grazing periods. NDF, ADF, lignin and IVDMD of the forage from the two treatments were similar in all evaluation periods. Oat and ryegrass NDF, ADF and lignin were greater in the last grazing period. Ryegrass IVDMD from the first two periods were similar and decreased in the final. For the São Paulo State conditions, adequately fertilized and irrigated aruanagrass pastures, when oversown with winter annual forages, yield more than single aruanagrass ones during the dry winter period but with similar nutritive value. Single aruanagrass pastures when fertilized and irrigated present also good forage yields with good nutritive value during this time.

Italian ryegrass (Lolium perenne spp. multiflorum) is a common weed management problem in turfgrasses, cereals and non-crop areas in the United States. In Oregon, the number of populations with multiple-resistance continues to increase. To manage these resistant populations, the resistance patterns must be determined. In this study, five Italian ryegrass populations (CT, R1, R2, R3 and R4) from two cropping systems were studied for resistance patterns and mechanisms. The CT population is from a Christmas tree plantation and was resistant to at least six herbicides with four different mechanisms of action: atrazine, diuron (2.4-fold), glyphosate (7.4-fold), hexazinone (3.1-fold), imazapyr (1.8-fold), and sulfometuron. The resistant indices (RI) for sulfometuron and atrazine could not be calculated because 50% growth reduction for the CT population was not reached even with the highest rates applied, 17.6 kg ai ha⁻¹and 16 kg ai ha⁻¹, respectively, which are 16 times the recommended field application rates for this two herbicides. The CT population accumulated less shikimate than the S population. There were two mutations in the CT population, Trp591 to Leu in the ALS gene and Ser264 to Gly in the psbA gene, which explain the ALS and PII cross resistance, respectively. R1, R2, R3 and R4 were collected from annual cropping systems. All four populations were resistant to flufenacet. RIs for two populations, R2 and R4, were 8.4 and 5.9, respectively. R2 and R4 also were resistant to mesosulfuron-methyl, pinoxaden, quizalofop and clethodim. R4 was resistant to diuron, but R2 was not. An Asp-2078-Gly substitution in the ACCase gene was found in both R2 and R4 populations, while another Ile-2041-Asn substitution in the ACCase gene was found in the R4 population. These mutations explain the ACCase cross resistance in the R2 and R4 populations. The mechanisms for the glyphosate resistance in the CT population and the flufenacet resistance in R1, R2, R3 and R4 populations were not identified in this study. None of the five populations were resistant to the herbicide pyroxasulfone. / Graduation date: 2013

No Instituto de Zootecnia, Nova Odessa, SP, em uma pastagem de capim-aruana (Panicum maximum Jacq. cv. Aruana) utilizada com ovinos em sistema intensivo de produção (irrigação, adubação e lotação rotacionada), foram sobre-semeadas as espécies forrageiras de inverno: aveia preta (Avena strigosa Schreb cv. Comum), azevém anual (Lolium multiflorum Lam. cv. Comum) e trevo branco (Trifolium repens L. cv. Zapicán) com o objetivo de suprir o déficit e melhorar o valor nutritivo da forragem no período crítico do ano. A sobre-semeadura foi efetuada em 14/04/00 e 07/06/01 no primeiro e segundo anos do experimento, respectivamente. Nos dois anos (14/04/00 a 18/01/01 e 07/06/01 a 22/02/02) foram avaliados, em seis períodos de pastejo: massa total de forragem pré-pastejo, sua composição botânica e porcentagem de lâminas foliares, massa de forragem pós-pastejo, acúmulo de forragem (AF) e taxa média diária de acúmulo de forragem (TMDAF) em cada período de rebrotação, altura do dossel forrageiro pré e pós-pastejo, características químicas: proteína bruta (PB), fibra em detergente neutro (FDN), fibra em detergente ácido (FDA), lignina e digestibilidade “in vitro” da matéria seca (DIVMS), nas amostras da massa total de forragem e nas dos componentes botânicos (aruana, aveia preta e azevém) pré-pastejo. O delineamento experimental foi o de blocos completos casualizados (quatro), com duas repetições dentro do bloco e dois tratamentos: 1) capim-aruana exclusivo (AE) e 2) sobre-semeadura da mistura das três espécies forrageiras de inverno (MFI). Os blocos eram pastejados pelo mesmo lote de animais, em sequência, por dois a três dias, até atingir 10 a 15 cm. O trevo-branco não se estabeleceu em ambos os anos. No primeiro ano, a pastagem MFI apresentou maior massa total de forragem do que a pastagem AE no segundo período e na média dos seis períodos. A aveia apresentou a maior contribuição no segundo período e o azevém no terceiro. As pastagens com a MFI apresentaram maiores AF e TMDAF que as pastagens de AE no segundo, quinto e na média dos seis períodos. A PB da forragem na pastagem de capim-aruana exclusivo foi maior em relação à sobre-semeada no terceiro período de pastejo e semelhante nos demais. A PB dos componentes aveia e azevém, no terceiro período, foi menor em relação aos do primeiro e segundo. FDN, FDA e lignina da forragem no tratamento exclusivo foram mais elevados em relação aos do tratamento sobre-semeado, na média dos seis períodos. Aveia e azevém apresentaram FDN mais baixos nos períodos iniciais de crescimento, com aumento no último. A digestibilidade da forragem foi semelhante nos dois tratamentos, em todos os períodos de avaliação. No segundo ano, a massa total de forragem apresentou quantidades semelhantes entre as duas pastagens ao longo dos seis períodos e na sua média. A aveia esteve mais presente no primeiro período e o azevém no terceiro. Não houve diferença entre tipos de pastagem para AF e TMDAF em nenhum dos seis períodos, nem na sua média. Para o componente aruana a porcentagem de lâminas foi semelhante entre os dois tipos de pastagem e para a aveia e azevém, as menores porcentagens ocorreram no período final dos seus ciclos vegetativos, em ambos os anos. O teor de PB da massa total de forragem da pastagem de capim-aruana exclusivo foi maior que o da pastagem sobre-semeada, no quarto período mas semelhante nos demais e na média dos períodos. Os teores de PB da aveia e do azevém decresceram ao longo dos períodos de pastejo. Os teores de FDN, FDA, lignina e DIVMS da forragem foram semelhantes entre as duas pastagens na média e ao longo dos seis períodos, exceto para FDN no segundo período. A aveia e o azevém apresentaram os maiores teores de FDN, FDA e lignina no último período de pastejo. A DIVMS do azevém manteve-se constante nos dois primeiros períodos de pastejo diminuindo no último. Pastos de capim-aruana convenientemente adubados e irrigados, que recebam sobre-semeadura com espécies forrageiras de inverno, produzem mais forragem no período crítico mas com valor nutritivo semelhante em relação a pastos não sobre-semeados, nas condições do Estado de São Paulo. Pastos deste capim, não sobre-semeados, mas que recebam adubação e irrigação também apresentam boa produção e valor nutritivo nesta época. / At Instituto de Zootecnia, Nova Odessa, SP, in a pasture of aruanagrass (Panicum maximum Jacq. cv. Aruana), grazed by sheep in an intensive production system (irrigation, fertilization and rotational stocking), it was introduced a three winter forage species: black oat (Avena strigosa Schreb. cv. Common), italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam. cv. Common) and white clover (Trifolium repens L. cv. Zapican) with the objective of increasing the forage supply and its nutritive value during the dry winter period. The mixture was broadcasted sown over the grass on 04-14-00 and 06-07-01 in two years of experiment. From 04-14-00 to 01-18-01 and 06-07-01 to 02-22-02 it was evaluated, in six annual grazing periods, the forage mass, its botanical composition and leaf blades percentage pre grazing, residual mass post grazing, forage accumulation (FA) and mean forage accumulation daily rate (MFADR) in each regrowth period and sward heigth pre and post grazing, the chemical characteristics: crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), lignin and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) in the forage on offer and in its botanical components. The experimental design was a completely randomized block (four) with two replications within the block. The treatments were: 1) grass alone and 2) the grass oversown with the mixture of the winter forages. The blocks were grazed by the same group of sheep in sequence for two or three days until the sward height reached to 10-15 cm. The white clover did not establish. In the first year the oversown treatment presented higher total forage mass than the control in the second periods and in the mean of the six periods. The black oat presented higher contribution in the second period and italian ryegrass in the third. The oversown pastures presented higher FA and MFADR than the single aruanagrass pastures, in the second, fifth and in the mean of the six periods. The CP in the forage from the grass pasture alone was greater than the one of the oversown pasture in the third period, and similar in the others. Oat and ryegrass CP was lower in the third period than the ones of the first and second ones. NDF, ADF and lignin in the forage from the grass pasture alone were greater than the ones of the oversown pasture. Oat and ryegrass NDF was lowest in the initial growth periods, increasing in the final. Forage IVDMD from the two treatments were similar in all evaluation periods. In the second year, the total forage mass was similar in the two pasture treatments in all grazing periods and in their means. The black oat contribution was higher in the first period and the one of italian ryegrass in the third. The FA and the MFADR were similar in the two pasture systems. The leaf blades percentage of aruanagrass was similar in the two pastures in all periods and the ones of black oat and italian ryegrass were lower in the final period compared to the preceeding ones, in the two years. The CP in the forage from the grass pasture alone was greater than the one of the oversown pasture in the fourth period, and similar in the others. Oat and ryegrass CP decreased along the grazing periods. NDF, ADF, lignin and IVDMD of the forage from the two treatments were similar in all evaluation periods. Oat and ryegrass NDF, ADF and lignin were greater in the last grazing period. Ryegrass IVDMD from the first two periods were similar and decreased in the final. For the São Paulo State conditions, adequately fertilized and irrigated aruanagrass pastures, when oversown with winter annual forages, yield more than single aruanagrass ones during the dry winter period but with similar nutritive value. Single aruanagrass pastures when fertilized and irrigated present also good forage yields with good nutritive value during this time.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / It was evaluated the performance of beef heifers on grazing receiving different levels of supplement: 0,0; 0,3; 0,6 and 0,9% of live weight (LW), in black oats (Avena strigosa Schreb.) plus Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) pasture and exclusively in natural pasture engaged by Annoni grass (Eragrostis planna Nees) after the end of the cycle of these forages. On cultivated pasture it was evaluated the botanic composition and the diurnal ingestive behavior of beef heifers. The supplement utilized was a commercial ration (14% CP; 18,8% NDF; 78,2% TDN) daily supplied at 2 pm. The studied variables were the average daily gain (ADG), body condition (BC), stocking rate (SR), weight gain per area (WGA), total forage on offer (TFO), height, live weight:height relation at 12 and 18 month of age and efficiency of transformation of forage in animal product. On the diurnal ingestive behavior were determined: grazing time, rumination, idle, trough permanence, biting rate and bite weight, in four dates. In cultivated pasture the ADG did not differ between animals that received different levels of supplement and it was bigger to supplemented animals. At 12 month of age the BC, SR, WGA, TFO and height of the animals did not differ between the supplement levels. On supplemented animals it was necessary 8.8 kg of DM of grass to produce 1 kg of live weight. The supply of supplement for heifers in grazing of oats and ryegrass interfere in a positive way on life weight, body condition and life weight: height relation of these animals at 18 months of age. The supplement levels affected partially the diurnal ingestive behavior of animals, reducing grazing time, increasing idle time, interfering on trough permanence time, biting rate and bite weight (P<0.05). The rumination time was not affected by supplement levels (P>0.05). The botanic and structural composition of pasture is influenced by supplement levels utilized and it is related with the cycle of forages production (P>0.05). / Foi avaliado o desempenho de bezerras de corte em pastejo recebendo diferentes níveis de suplemento: 0,0; 0,3; 0,6 e 0,9% do peso vivo (PV), em pastagem de aveia (Avena strigosa Schreb.) mais azevém (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) e exclusivamente em campo nativo ocupado por capim Annoni (Eragrostis plana Nees), após o final do ciclo destas forrageiras. Na pastagem cultivada foi avaliada a composição botânica e o comportamento ingestivo diurno de bezerras de corte. O suplemento utilizado foi uma ração comercial (14% PB; 18,8% FDN; 78,2% NDT), fornecida diariamente às 14:00 h. As variáveis estudadas foram ganho médio diário (GMD), condição corporal (CC), carga animal (CA), produção animal por hectare (GPA), oferta de forragem total (OFT), altura, relação peso vivo:altura aos 12 e 18 meses de idade, e eficiência de transformação de Kg de forragem em produto animal. No comportamento ingestivo diurno foram determinados: tempo de pastejo, ruminação, ócio, permanência no cocho, taxa de bocada e peso de bocado, em quatro datas. Em pastagem cultivada o GMD não diferiu entre animais que receberam diferentes níveis de suplemento e foi maior para animais suplementados. Aos 12 meses de idade a CC, CA, GPA, OFT e altura dos animais não diferiram entre níveis de suplemento. Nos animais suplementados foram necessários 8,8 kg de MS do pasto para produzir 1 kg de peso vivo. O fornecimento de suplemento para novilhas em pastejo em aveia e azevém interfere de forma positiva no peso vivo, CC e relação peso vivo:altura destes animais aos 18 meses de idade. Níveis de suplemento afetaram parcialmente o comportamento ingestivo diurno dos animais, reduzindo o tempo de pastejo, aumentando o tempo de ócio, interferindo no tempo de permanência no cocho, na taxa de bocada e peso do bocado (P<0,05). Tempo de ruminação não foi afetado pelos níveis de suplemento (P>0,05). A composição botânica e estrutural da pastagem é influenciada pelos níveis de suplemento utilizados e está relacionada com o ciclo de produção das forrageiras.

Thesis(M.S.)--Auburn University, 2005. / Abstract. Vita. Includes bibliographic references.