Produção animal e estrutura de uma pastagem natural submetida a diferentes sistemas de manejo

This study was accomplished at the Fundacao Estadual de Pesquisa Agropecuaria (Fepagro) in Sao Gabriel, RS, Brazil, with the aim of evaluating the performance of ewes with lambs in a natural grassland pasture under three management systems. The evaluated treatments were: improved natural grassland with the introduction of cool-season species under rotative grazing (PNMR); natural grassland under continuous grazing (PNC); and natural grassland under rotative grazing (PNR). The treatments were distributed into a totally randomized design, with two replicates of each area. The experimental period lasted from November 1st to December 23, 2004, and the grazing animals used were ewes with lambs (males and females) of the Corriedale breed. There was no difference in average values of pasture growth rates and total production of DM among treatments. The average forage allowances of 20.3 and 22.1% of live weight in PNMR and PNR, respectively, were superior to the 13.7% of live weight in PNC. No significant difference among treatments was observed for the values of DLG (Daily Live weight Gain) for male and female lambs, with similar performance in all three evaluated systems.