Rangelands in Jordan are deteriorated due to a combination of harsh environmental conditions and human misuse. Jordan is importing increasingly large quantities of meat and animal products to meet the demand from its growing population. Sheep are supplementaQ ly fed during the dry season and large quantities of grain supplements are imported every year. Significant success has been attained in the establishment of Atriplex nummularia lindl. (ATNU) in Jordan. There is, however, a general lack of adequate research to determine if ATNU is effectively utilized by local sheep, to what extent it is utilized and to what extent it tolerates grazing. The objectives of this research were to determine the effects of grazing ATNU at two intensities (moderate and heavy) on subsequent production of ATNU browse, and on sheep live weight. Results of this research showed that HNU shrubs are grazing tolerant, they are stimulated by grazing to produce more forage than the non-grazed shrubs. When heavily grazed in the fall, they showed greater compensatory growth than moderately grazed shrubs, but the moderately grazed shrubs gave sustained production better than those heavily grazed in both good and bad years. Sheep grazing ATNU shrubs with native forage (grasses and forbs) in the fall gained more weight at the moderately grazed treatments. The amount of sheep-live-weight gain was positively affected by the amount of food intake per sheep metabolic body weight and inversely affected by the percentage of ATNU browse in the diet. ATNU although less preferred by sheep than grasses and forbs, could probably be used up to 40% of the diet and still maintain sheep live weight. ATNU is a good source of forage especially during the dry season, it provides (with native grasses and forbs) a high-quality forage and may considerably reduce the amount of costly supplements imported to Jordan.

The aim of this dissertation consists in analysing the results of the biotechnological techniques (insemination, embryotransfer) for a selected herd of meat-type cattle raised in a foothills countryside dutiny 5 years (2002 {--} 2006) and their comparison with natural breeding. The results this obtained are presented in dependence on the breed, fater{\crq}s origin and calving month. The analysis involves 795 Charolais calves and 450 meat-type Siemental calves. In the Charolais group insemination gave 275 calves, while natural breeding gave 520 calves. In the case of meat-type Siemental group the corresponding numbers are 179 and 271, accordingly. After embryotranfer we have got 4 Charolais calves and 15 calves of the other breed. The work evaluates the influence of the technique of breeding on to the rate of calf grow, with this investigation being performed in dependence on the breed. The meat-type Siemental bulls have shown a significant difference (p {>} 0,05) in the live weight of the calves 120 and 365 days old. In this age bulls born after insemination have been heavier (183,9 kg, 527,9 kg) in comparison with bulls born after natural breeding (172,4 kg, 497,0 kg). Concerming Charolais bulls, no statistically significant difference in the live weight have been found. In addition, no significant influence of the mode of breeding on to the live weight has been found for heifers of both breeds. Concerning the effect of the calving month on the rate of grow, the meat-type Siemntal calves have shown a highly statistically significant (p {>} 0,001) difference in the live weight of calves born in March. The live weights of calves born in March and weighed at 120, 210 and 365 days have been 181,17 kg, 289,2 kg and 510,31 kg, these values being valid for calves after insemination. The corresponding values for natural breeding are lower, particularly 168,26 kg, 271,37 kg and 439,59 kg. In addition a statistically considerable difference (p {>} 0,01) in the live weight has been found for calves 120 days old if the calves were born in April. Insemination has led to a live weight of 194,5 kg, while natural breeding to 168,9 kg. In the group of Charolais calves a statistically significant difference (p {>} 0,01 {--} 0,05) has been found at the age of 365 days. Calves born after insemination had a higher live weight (462,85 kg) as compared to those born after natural breeding (432,85 kg). As concerns the parameters characterising fertility, the following ones have been analysed: the service period (SP), the birth-to-birth interval and the percentage of becoming pregnanat after the first insemination. For the whole period under investigation, the SP value for the Charolais calves (T 100) has been 89,19 days while for the meat-type Siemental calves (S 100) 80,04 days. As concerns the birth-to-birth period found for Charolais (381,32 days) and the meat-type Siemental (390,35 days), it may be stated that these results are satisfactory. The percentage of becoming pregnant after the first insemination has shown a downword trend for both breeds in the course of the years under study. Investigated paramentrs of growth and reproduction are markedly influenced by the breed.

The object of graduation theses was catch up the basic category of bull´s behaviour (food taking, resting, standing, movement). The bulls are stabled in free full grating system and they are here from start until the end of fattening with regard to racial differences among them. Average time of taking feed during whole fattening was 4.68 hours (19.4 %). Average time of caregory´s movement durinng whole fattening was 1.30 hours (5.4 %). Average time of resting was 13.41 hours (56.0 %). Average time of standing was 4.62 hours (19.2 %).

The aim of this thesis was the evaluation of the meat performance of Salers beef-cattle bred in two private farms under different climatic conditions (altitude) one farm was situated 450 m above sea level, the other 750850 m above sea level. The evaluation included 36 purebred breeding-cows and 87 calves in the first farm and 38 purebred breeding-cows and 64 calves in the second farm. The observation was carried out in the period 20142016. The average age of the cows bred in the lower altitude farm was 8.5 years, 6.3 years in the second farm. The average calving interval of cows in the first farm was 392.10 days, calving interval of cows from the mountain area farm was 492.60 days. The first calving of cows was reached in three years on both farms (2.8 and 2.9 years respectively). The calves born on the farm in the higher altitude had higher birth weight and daily gains to the age of 210 days. The difference of the average birth weight between the groups was 5.7 kg, 10.94 kg at the age of 120 days, and 25.63 kg at the age of 210 days. When comparing live weight, the calves from natural breeding had better results than the calves from artificial insemination. The study proved an excellent milking capacity of Salers cows and therefore a good growth ability of the calves even under mountain condition of Šumava.

The aim of this dissertation lies in analysing the calf growth of a selected herd of meat-type cattle raised in a foothills landscape. The period of investigation lasted 5 years (2002 {--} 2006). The data obtained for the breeds Charolais and the meat-type Siemental cattle are presented in dependence on the breed, convenience of birth, mother´s height in the cross, calving month and the serial number of the birth. The study covers 795 Charolais calves and 450 calves of meat-type Siemental breed. In the time interval mentioned above, the Charolais breed gave 400 bulls and 395 heifers, the corresponding numbers for the meat-type Siemental breed are 226 bulls and 224 heifers. Considered from the viewpoint of breed influence on to the calf rate of growth, the investigation has revealed no statistically significant effect. A statistically significant effect has been revealed only for heifers 120 days old, the live weight of the meat-type Siemental heifers being higher (162,71 kg) than that for the Charolais heifers (158,14 kg). The differences in the live weight amount to 4,47 kg. Statistically, this diference is probably significant, the significance level p = 0,05. Furthermore, the work has studied the effect of calf sex onto the rate of growth in both calf categories mentioned above. The live weight of the meat-type calves show a statistically highly significant difference (p {>} 0,001) for the bulls and heifers at the age of 120, 210 and 365 days. At the age of 120 days, the live weight of bulls is by 14,31 kg higher compared with that of heifers, at the age of 210 days the difference amounts to 25,65 kg and at 365 days 116,29 kg. Similar differences between bulls and heifers are statistically highly significant also for Charolais calves. At the age of 120 days the bulls are heavier than heifers by 18,45 kg, at 210 days by 29,16 kg and at the age of 365 days this difference amounts to 115,59 kg. The study covers also the investigation of the effect of mother´s cross height on to the rate of calf growth. Considered statistically, no such effect has been revealed for calves 120, 210 and 365 days old. The investigation of the effect of the calving month has brought us to a conclusion that the heaviest calves are born in March and April, with the differences in individual months ranging on significance levels p {>} 0,001, p {>} 0,01 and p = 0,05. In both breeds we have also investigated the effect of the serial number of the birth on to the live weight. For the Charolais breed, the highest weight has been found for calves with serial number 3, 4 and 5. For the calves of the meat-type Siemental breed it has been found that the calves born as the second one reach the highest weight at the age of 120, 210 and 365 days,the results obtained being statistically highly significant (p {>} 0,001) and probably significant (p = 0,05).

It has been observed beef breed herd of Aberdeen Angus cattle in the foothills area of Novohradské mountains in 1992 - 2007. The base of herd was consisted of 117 dams and 814 pieces of calves in total. The parameters of beef production of calves and the reproduction of dams were monitored. For the parameters of growth of calves were found significant effects of the year, the month of birth, sex, the order of calving, the method of reproduction and the sire.

Thesis (BSc. Agriculture (Animal Production)) -- University of Limpopo, 2019 / An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of bovine colostrum feeding period after hatching on performance and carcass characteristics of male Ross 308 broiler chickens. The experiment was based on 0, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 72 hours of liquid bovine colostrum feeding after hatching of broiler chickens. The experiment commenced with 180 male Ross 308 broiler chicks with an initial live weight of 42 ± 2g per bird and was carried out for six weeks. The chicks were randomly assigned to six treatments with three replications, resulting in 18-floor pens with 10 chicks per replicate. A complete randomized design was used in this experiment. Data was analysed using the General Linear Model (GLM) procedures of the Statistical Analysis of system, Version 9.3.1 software program. Where there were significant differences, mean separation was done using the Turkey test at the 5% level of significance. A quadratic regression model was used to determine the optimum productivity of the experiment while a linear model was used to determine the relationships between bovine colostrum feeding period and responses in the variables measured. Feed intake during Week 1, growth rate during Week 3 and feed conversion ratio (FCR) during Weeks 2 and 3 of the growing period of male Ross 308 broiler chickens were not affected (p>0.05) by bovine colostrum feeding periods after hatching. Similarly, bovine colostrum feeding had no effect (p>0.05) on diet dry matter (DM), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF) and ash digestibilities in male Ross 308 broiler chickens aged 14 to 21 days. Bovine colostrum feeding period after hatching had no effect (p>0.05) on nitrogen retention (N-retention) in male broiler chickens aged one to 21 days. Similarly, gut organ digesta pH, length and weight of male Ross 308 broiler chickens aged 21 days were not improved (p>0.05) by bovine colostrum feeding after hatching. However, bovine colostrum feeding improved (p<0.05) feed intake during Weeks 2 and 3 of the growing period of male Ross 308 broiler chickens. Similarly, bovine colostrum feeding after hatching improved (p<0.05) crude protein (CP) digestibility in male broiler chickens aged 14 to 21 days. Metabolisable energy (ME) intake of male Ross 308 broiler chickens aged one to 21 days was improved (p<0.05) by bovine colostrum feeding period after hatching. Similarly, growth rate of male broiler v chickens during Weeks 1 and 2 was improved (p<0.05) by colostrum feeding after hatching. Feed conversion ratio of male broiler chickens during Week 1 was improved (p<0.05) by bovine colostrum feeding period after hatching. Bovine colostrum feeding after hatching improved (p<0.05) live weight of male Ross 308 broiler chickens at the ages of 7, 14 and 21 days. Nitrogen retention and FCR of male Ross 308 broiler chickens aged 22 to 42 days were not affected (p>0.05) by bovine colostrum feeding after hatching. In addition, live weights of male Ross 308 broiler chickens aged 35 and 42 days were not affected (p>0.05) by bovine colostrum feeding period after hatching. Similarly, bovine colostrum feeding had no effect (p>0.05) on gut organ digesta pH, large intestine lengths, breast and drumstick weights and breast meat juiciness of male Ross 308 broiler chickens aged 42 days. However, bovine colostrum feeding improved (p<0.05) feed intake and growth rate of male Ross 308 broiler chickens aged 22 to 42 days. Live weights of male Ross 308 broiler chickens aged 28 days were improved (p<0.05) by bovine colostrum feeding period after hatching. Similarly, bovine colostrum feeding after hatching did not affect (p<0.05) diet DM, CP, NDF, ADF and ash digestibilities in male Ross 308 broiler chickens aged 35 to 42 days. Metabolisable energy intake of male broiler chickens aged 22 to 42 days was improved (p<0.05) by bovine colostrum feeding period after hatching. Similarly, GIT, small intestine and caecum lengths and crop, proventriculus, gizzard, small intestine, caecum, large intestine, carcass and thigh weights of male Ross 308 broiler chickens aged 42 days were improved (p<0.05) by bovine colostrum feeding after hatching. Bovine colostrum feeding after hatching improved (p<0.05) breast meat tenderness, flavour and shear force of male Ross 308 broiler chickens aged 42 days. It is concluded that reasons for differing responses to bovine colostrum feeding periods of up to 72 hours after hatching are not clear. Therefore, further studies in which longer bovine colostrum feeding periods are used after hatching are recommended. / National Research Foundation (NRF)

Thesis (M.Sc. (Animal Production)) --University of Limpopo, 2019 / Two experiments were conducted to determine the effect of dietary threonine level on production performance and carcass characteristics of Ross 308 broiler chickens. In each experiment the diets were isocaloric and isonitrogenous but with different dietary threonine levels.The first part of the study determined the effect of dietary threonine level on feed intake, growth rate, mortality and carcass characteristics of Ross 308 broiler chickens aged between Day 1-21. A total of 150 unsexed day-old chicks were used in a complete randomized design having 5 treatments (6.4, 7.5, 8, 8.5 and 9g of threonine/kg DM feed), replicated three times and having ten chickens per replicate. The second part of the study determined the effect of dietary threonine level on feed intake, digestibility, growth rate, mortality and carcass characteristics of male Ross 308 broiler chickens aged between Day 22-42. Seventy-five male chickens were used in a complete randomized design having 5 treatments (6.4, 7.5, 8, 8.5 and 9g of threonine/kg DM feed), replicated three times and having five chickens per replicate. A quadratic regression model was used to determine the optimal productivity of the chickens while a General Linear Model (GLM) procedures for the statistical analysis of variance was used to detect dietary treatment effects. Where there were significant differences (P<0.05), Turkey’s honestly significant difference test (HSD) was used for mean separation. The chickens were slaughtered at the ages of 21 and 42 days for Experiments 1 and 2, respectively, following ethical standards as recommended by the University of Limpopo Animal Research Ethics Committee (AREC/12/2017: PG). Two chickens per replicate for both studies were slaughtered for the determination of carcass characteristics (carcass and organ weights, gut organ digesta pH and gastro-intestinal length measurements). Dietary threonine levels used in this experiment affected (P<0.05) feed intake, growth rate, live weight, metabolisable energy (ME) intake, nitrogen retention, feed conversion ratio and gut organ weights and lengths of unsexed Ross 308 broiler chickens aged 21 days. Dietary threonine level did not affect (P>0.05) diet digestibility. Feed conversion ratio, pH of the proventriculus digesta, gut intestine length and caecum length of unsexed broiler chickens were optimized at different dietary threonine levels of 9.6, 8.5, 6.6 and 8.4 g/kg DM, respectively. Dietary threonine levels had an effect (P<0.05) on feed intake, diet digestibility, metabolizable energy, live weight, proventriculus pH values, GIT length, gut organ and carcass organ weights of male Ross 308 broiler chickens between 22 to 42 days of age. Proventriculus and large intestine weights were optimized at different dietary threonine levels of 7.5 and 9.1 g/kg DM feed, respectively. Dietary threonine level did not affect (P>0.05) growth rate, feed conversion ratio of male Ross 308 broiler chickens between 22 to 42 days of age. It is concluded that dietary threonine levels used in this study affected production performance of younger broilers (Day 1-21) more than that of older birds (Day 22-42). However, production variables were optimized at different dietary threonine levels. This has implication on diet formulation for the chickens and no linear response could be established / National Research Foundation (NRF), and the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF)

This study was developed in order to explore chromosomal regions associated with carcass and meat traits in Nellore cattle breed, identifying metabolic and genetic pathways related to its characteristics expression, as well as generate additional phenotypes for future genome association studies, in order to fully describe parameters related to final product quality. Thereunto, 995 bulls were genotyped for more than 770,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), were evaluated for body weight at birth, weight gain at weaning and yearling, conformation, finishing precocity and muscling at weaning and yearling. These traits are correlated, therefore, genomic mapping method were applied in order to identify pleiotropic regions. Results highlighted previously described genomic regions associated to beef cattle weight gain and growth traits, particularly PLAG1 gene, sheltered by the most significantly associated marker region, which in other studies were associated to weight, height and sexual precocity in Nellore breed. To evaluate carcass and meat quality traits, 576 young bulls were evaluated for hot carcass weight, ribeye area, fat thickness, pH 24 hours after slaughter and color parameters (L*, a*, b*), for shearing force, dripping and cooking loss, evaluations were performed for different maturation times (7, 14 and 21 days). Animals were genotyped on two platforms, Illumina&reg; BovineHD BeadChip (HD) and Bovine GeneSeek&reg; Genomic Profiler &trade; HD Illumina Infinium&reg; (GGP). Animals genotyped at a lower density (GGP) were imputed to high density chip (HD). Shear force, dripping and cooking loss measures which relates to meat tenderness, were associated to cytoskeleton structure and proteolytic enzymes activity, pointing to serine/serpin enzyme complex as main candidates for regulate proteolysis and muscle fiber structure degradation. Were performed an evaluation of Longissimus thoracis et lumborum intramuscular fat content of 148 animals. It was approached by a human health perspective where samples received a classification regarding fatty acids effects on human organism (\"beneficial\", \"evil\" or \"neutral\"), as well as provided phenotypic information for future genome association studies. The identification of 42 fatty acids and 16 indexes, generated detailed information on these animals\' meat fat composition. Principal component analysis (PCA) results showed that large variation proportion between samples fat composition occurs due to expression differences among desaturase and elongase enzymes. Thus, it is expected that generated data, information and knowledge hereby, can assist animal breeding programs to improve Brazilian herds according meat chain interests. / O presente trabalho foi desenvolvido com o objetivo de explorar regiões cromossômicas associadas à características de carcaça e carne em bovinos da raça Nelore, explorar suas funções em vias metabólicas e gênicas relacionadas às manifestações dessas características, assim como gerar novos fenótipos para futuros estudos de associação genômica, com vistas a descrever, de forma completa, as características relacionadas à qualidade do produto final. Para isso, 995 animais machos não castrados, genotipados para mais de 770.000 marcadores de polimorfismos de nucleotídeo único (SNP), foram avaliados quanto ao peso corporal ao nascimento, ganho de peso à desmama e ao sobre ano, conformação, precocidade de terminação e musculosidade à desmama e ao sobre ano. Como estas características são correlacionadas, foram aplicadas metodologias de mapeamento genômico com o objetivo de identificar regiões pleiotrópicas. Os resultados destacaram regiões do genoma bovino que contêm genes descritos por influenciarem em características de crescimento e ganho de peso nestes animais, com destaque para o gene PLAG1, pertencente à região do marcador mais significativo associado aos fenótipos, anteriormente associado ao peso, altura e precocidade sexual em animais dessa raça. Para acessar atributos de qualidade de carcaça e carne, 576 machos não castrados foram avaliados quanto ao peso de carcaça quente, área de lombo, espessura de gordura subcutânea, pH após 24 horas do abate, cor (L*, a*, b*) e perdas de peso por exsudação e cozimento e força de cisalhamento em diferentes tempos de maturação (7, 14 e 21 dias). Os animais foram genotipados em duas plataformas, Illumina&reg; BovineHD BeadChip (HD) e GeneSeek&reg; Genomic Profiler Bovine HD&trade; Illumina Infinium&reg; (GGP), sendo os genótipos deste último imputados para o conjunto de maior densidade. As avaliações de perdas de peso por exsudação e cozimento e força de cisalhamento, utilizada para mensurar maciez, revelam a influencia da estrutura do citoesqueleto e da ação das enzimas proteolíticas, apontando o complexo enzimático serinas/serpinas como candidato na regulação do processo de proteólise e degradação da estrutura da fibra muscular. Foi realizada avaliação dos ácidos graxos no músculo Longissimus thoracis et lumborum de 148 animais com vistas à classificação das amostras quanto aos efeitos esperados no organismo humano (\"benéfico\", \"maléfico\" ou \"neutro\"), assim como prover informação fenotípica para futuros estudos de associação genômica. A identificação de 42 ácidos graxos e 16 índices gerou informação detalhada sobre a gordura presente na carne destes animais, sendo observado, por análise de componentes principais (PCA), que a maior variação entre a composição das amostras avaliadas parece ser em decorrência da diferença de expressão das enzimas elongases e dessaturases. Dessa forma, espera-se que os dados, informações e conhecimento gerados por este trabalho, possam auxiliar os programas de melhoramento genético animal a aprimorar o rebanho brasileiro segundo características de interesse da cadeia produtiva de carne.

O objetivo do experimento foi compreender e quantificar a mudança estrutural de pastagens anuais típicas do período hibernal do RS e avaliar o potencial produtivo e as características de carcaças de novilhos superprecoces. O experimento foi conduzido em área pertencente à Fazenda Espinilho, localizada no município de São Miguel das Missões – RS. Foram impostos quatro tratamentos por meio de diferentes alturas de manejo da pastagem: 10, 20, 30 e 40 cm, obtidas a partir da aplicação de diferentes cargas animais. O delineamento foi o de blocos completos casualizados com três repetições. Foram utilizados animais, com cerca de 10 meses de idade, machos inteiros, uniformes, sem padrão racial definido, com peso médio inicial de 190 kg. As variáveis estudadas foram: massa de forragem (MF), taxa de acúmulo de forragem (TAC), produção total de forragem (PTMS), relação lâmina foliar/colmo + bainha, ganho médio diário (GMD), ganho por área (GPA). Observou-se um aumento linear da MF com o aumento da altura do pasto, onde para cada cm de aumento na altura acima de 10 cm, correspondem um incremento de cerca de 108 kg/há na MF do pasto. Não houve efeito dos tratamentos para a TAC, bem como para a PTMS, cujos valores médios foram de 55,8 kg/há.dia e 8210 kg/ha, respectivamente. O aumento no GMD foi condicionado pelo incremento na qualidade e/ou na quantidade de forragem disponível, já que as OF diárias para os tratamentos de 10, 20, 30 e 40 cm de altura foram de 6, 7, 13 e 19 kg de MS/100 kg de PV, respectivamente. Portanto, o modelo de resposta do GMD em relação às alturas resultou em 0,96 e 1,24 kg/animal nos tratamentos de menor e maior GMD, respectivamente, que foram de 10 e 20 cm de altura. O maior GPA observado no tratamento 10 cm (515 kg de PV/ha) deveu-se à uma maior carga animal utilizada, e ambas apresentaram respostas lineares decrescendo com o aumento da altura de pastejo. O peso vivo dos animais antes do abate não foram incrementados com o aumento da altura do pasto (P>0,05). Houve um forte e abrupto decréscimo da relação lâmina/colmo+bainha colmo nos tratamentos 30 e 40 cm a partir de setembro. Investigou-se o ajuste de quatro tipos teóricos de distribuição das freqüências de altura em cada tratamento e em seis diferentes datas de observação, bem como o potencial de predição da MF por intermédio da altura do pasto. A distribuição das freqüências de altura se ajustou ao modelo Normal em apenas uma das noventa e seis séries analisadas. A distribuição tipo Gamma foi a que mais freqüentemente se ajustou aos dados de altura, porém, uma vez iniciado o pastejo, o incremento da heterogeneidade no pasto foi tal que a distribuição de freqüências não se ajustou a nenhum dos modelos estudados. Sugerese que as metas de altura de manejo devam ser variáveis ao longo do ciclo de pastejo, com o intuito de se administrar a heterogeneidade causada pelo animal. / Aiming to comprehend and quantify the structural changes in typical temperate annual pastures from RS and evaluate the potential production and characteristics of young beef steers carcass, this experiment was conducted at Fazenda Espinilho, located in São Miguel das Missões. Treatments were four sward height management targets (10, 20, 30 and 40 cm), using continuous variable stocking. A completely randomized block design with three replicates was applied. Beef steers weighting 190 Kg were used and they were ten months old, non-castrated males with no defined breed. The investigated variables were herbage mass (HM), herbage growth rate (GR), total dry matter production (TDMP) and laminae/stem+sheath relation, average daily gain (ADG), gain per area (GPA). Results indicated a linear increase relating herbage mass and sward height, where each cm on sward height above 10 cm increases herbage mass in 108 kg/ha. Treatments did not differ in GR and the TDMP, average values being 55,8 kg DM/ha and 8210 kg DM/ha, respectively. The increase on the average daily gain (ADG) was due to the increase of quality/amount of available forage and the herbage allowance for the treatments of 10, 20, 30, 40 cm, was 6, 7, 13, 19 DM kg/ 100 kg LW, respectively. So, the ADG was 0.96 and 1.24 kg/animal for the treatments of lowest and highest ADG, which corresponds to 10 cm and 20 cm. Once ADG was low, the highest GPA observed on the 10 cm treatment (515 Kg PV/ha) was due to a higher stocking rate and both presented a negative linear response, decreasing with the increase in sward height. Concerning final live weight there was no difference with increasing sward height (P>0,05). A pronounced decrease in laminae/stem+sheath relation for 30 and 40 cm treatments occurred by September. In addition, four theoretical distributions were fitted to sward height data for each treatment in six different sample dates. Sward frequency height distributions fitted Normal distribution only in one of ninety six data series analyzed. Gamma distribution was more frequently adjusted to sward height data, however, once grazing started, pasture heterogeneity was so increased that sward height did not fitted neither of the investigated models. It is suggested that sward height targets should be variable along the grazing season aiming to manage the heterogeneity caused by the animal.