The objective was to evaluate elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) pastures, under the agroecological and conventional systems, as forage mass and stocking rate. In the agroecological system, the elephant grass was established in rows spaced by 3.0 m from each other. During the cool season ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) was established between these rows, which allowed the development of spontaneous growth species during the warm season. In the conventional system the elephant grass was established singularly in rows spaced 1.4 m from each other. Organic and chemical fertilizers were applied at 150 kg of N/ha/year with in the pastures under agroecological and conventional systems, respectively. Lactating Holstein cows which received 5.0 kg/day supplementary concentrate feed were used for evaluation. The experimental design was completely randomized, with two treatments (agroecological and conventional systems) two replications (paddocks) and independent evaluations (grazing cycles). The pastures were used during the whole year for the agroecological system and for 195 days in the conventional year. The average values of forage mass were 3.5 and 4.2 t/ha and the stocking rates were 2.08 and 3.23 AU/ha for the respective systems. The results suggest that the use of the elephant grass under the agroecological system allows for best distribution of forage and stocking rate to be more uniform throughout the year than the use of elephant grass in conventional system.

O objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar a massa, o teor de proteína bruta da forragem e a taxa de lotação em pastagens de capim elefante em dois sistemas de produção. No sistema convencional, o capim elefante foi plantado em linhas afastadas a cada 1,2m. No sistema agroecológico, o capim foi plantado em linhas afastadas a cada 3m; no espaço entre as linhas, no período hibernal, foram semeados o azevém anual e o trevo vermelho e, no período estival, permitiu-se o desenvolvimento de espécies de crescimento espontâneo. Foram utilizados 150kg de N ha-1 com fertilizantes químico e orgânico para os respectivos sistemas forrageiros. Foram usadas vacas em lactação que receberam complementação à razão de 0,9% do peso vivo. Para determinação do teor de proteína bruta, foram retiradas amostras simulando o pastejo. Valores similares foram observados quanto à composição estrutural do capim elefante em ambos os sistemas. Durante o período experimental, foram conduzidos oito e sete pastejos para os respectivos sistemas. Os valores médios de massa de forragem de pré-pastejo e da taxa de lotação foram de 3,7 e 4,8t ha-1 e de 2,10 e 2,51UA ha-1 dia-1. A pastagem sob sistema agroecológico apresenta melhor distribuição de forragem ao longo do ano. Teores elevados de proteína bruta foram observados no período hibernal, em ambos os sistemas forrageiros.

The objective of this research was to evaluate the forage mass, crude protein and stocking rate on elephantgrass pastures in two production systems. In the conventional system elephantgrass was planted in rows 1,2m apart from each other. In the agroecological system elephant grass was planted in rows 3m apart from each other. In the space between alleys, in cool season, annual ryegrass and red clover were introduced; allowing the development of spontaneous growing species in the warm season. It was applied 150kg of N ha-1 with chemical and organic fertilizers in the respective pastures. Holstein cows receiving 0.9% of body weight complementary concentrate feed were used. Hand-plucked samples were collected to analyze crude protein. Similar value was found in the structural components of elephantgrass pastures in both pasture systems. Eight and seven grazing cycles were performed during the experimental period for respective systems. The average dry matter value for pre-grazing and stocking rate were 3.7 e 4.8t ha-1 and 2.10 e 2.51AU ha-1 day-1 for each respective systems. Agroecological system presents best forage distribution throughout the year. Higher values of crude protein of elephantgrass were observed in cool season in both systems.

O objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar a produtividade e o valor nutritivo de dois sistemas forrageiros (SF) constituídos por capim elefante (CE), azevém (AZ), trevo branco (TB) e espécies de crescimento espontâneo (ECE), como SF1; e CE + AZ + amendoim forrageiro (AF) + ECE, como SF2. O CE foi estabelecido em linhas espaçadas a cada quatro metros. Entre elas, foi estabelecido azevém, durante o período hibernal, permitindo-se o desenvolvimento de ECE no período estival. Para avaliação, foram utilizadas vacas da raça Holandesa e o método de pastejo foi o rotacionado. Avaliaram-se a massa de forragem inicial (MFI) e a composição botânica e estrutural dos pastos. Para as estimativas de valor nutritivo, foram feitas amostragens simulando o pastejo e analisados a fibra em detergente neutro (FDN), fibra em detergente ácido (FDA), proteína bruta (PB), digestibilidade in vitro da matéria seca (DIVMS) e digestibilidade in vitro da matéria orgânica (DIVMO). O delineamento experimental foi o inteiramente casualizado com dois tratamentos e duas repetições, em parcelas subdivididas no tempo. Os valores médios de massa de forragem inicial e da carga animal foram similares entre os SF. Observou-se resultado superior para o teor médio de PB da forragem do SF2. O uso do azevém, das leguminosas e das espécies de crescimento espontâneo em consórcio com o CE permite manter massa de forragem uniforme no decorrer dos pastejos.

The objective of this research was to evaluate the productivity and nutritive value of two pasture-based systems (PS) with elephant grass (EG) + ryegrass (RG) + white clover (WC) + spontaneous growing species (SGS), for PS1; and EG + RG + forage peanut (FP) + SGS, for PS2. EG was established in rows spaced by four meters. Ryegrass was seeding in the space between rows during cool-season and development of SGS was permitted in the warm-season. Holstein cows under rotational grazing were used in the evaluation. The initial forage mass (IFM), the botanical composition and the structural components were evaluated. Samples from hand-plucking method were collected to analyze neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), crude protein (CP), in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) and in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD). The experimental design used was completely randomized with two treatments, two repetitions in complete split-plot time. The mean values of initial forage mass and stocking rate were similar among PS. Superior results were found for mean of CP in PS2. The use of ryegrass, legumes and spontaneous growing species mixed to EG allow the forage mass to be uniform during the grazing pastures.

Realizou-se o presente trabalho com o objetivo de avaliar a composição química de dois sistemas forrageiros, tendo como componentes comuns o capim-elefante, o azevém e as espécies de crescimento espontâneo, variando em um sistema o consórcio com o trevo branco, e, em outro, com o amendoim forrageiro. Para avaliação, foram usados quatro piquetes com 0,25ha cada um. Como animais experimentais, foram utilizadas vacas em lactação da raça Holandesa. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado, com dois tratamentos (sistemas forrageiros) e duas repetições (piquetes). Para análise de proteína bruta (PB), fibra em detergente neutro (FDN) e fibra em detergente ácido (FDA), foram retiradas amostras através de simulação de pastejo. A participação dos componentes dos sistemas forrageiros variou segundo as leguminosas componentes. O sistema composto por amendoim forrageiro permitiu suportar maior carga no período estival. Os valores médios (pré e pós-pastejo) para PB, FDN e FDA foram de 18,76; 71,46; 34,87% para o sistema forrageiro constituído com o trevo branco e de 19,31; 71,19 e 35,40%. Os resultados foram similares entre os sistemas forrageiros.

The aim of this research was to evaluate the chemical composition of two pasture-based systems having as common components the elephantgrass, ryegrass and spontaneous growth species, in one system the white clover and, in another system, the forage peanut. Four paddocks, each one with 0.25ha, were used in the evaluation. Holstein cows were used in the evaluation. The experimental design was completely randomized, with two treatments (pasture-based systems), two replications (paddocks). To analyze the crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF), hand-plucked samples were collected. Composition of forage systems changes according to its legumes compounds. Forage peanut system allowed a greater stocking rate in hot season. The mean values (pregraze and postgraze) of CP, NDF and ADF, were 18.76; 71.46 and 34.87% to the pasture-based system with white clover and 19.31; 71.19 and 35.40% to the system with forage peanut, respectively. Similar results were observed for the pasture systems.