Animal and vegetal production of a natural pasture under different forage allowances for cattle

In this research it was evaluated the influence of different forage allowances and combinations of forage allowances along the year on the pasture accumulation dynamic and animal performance. The experiment was conducted in a natural pasture area with yearling beef heifers maintained in continuous grazing with variable stocking rate. The treatments utilized with fixed forage allowances during the year were 4; 8; 12 e 16kg 100kg(-1) of live weight; and the treatments of forage allowance combinations were 8 on Spring and 12 on Autumn-Winter-Summer (8-12%); 12 on Spring and 8 on Autumn-Winter-Summer (12-8%); 16 on Spring and 12 on Autumn-Winter-Summer (16-12%), constituting a experimental design in randomized blocks with two replicates of area. The primary and secondary productions were evaluated on the accumulation period of 2007-2008. The results proved that in situations of very low forage allowances, e. g. 4%, the individual performance of animals and per area were prejudiced. Management of forage allowance combination of 8-12% promoted increase of 35% on the individual performance of animals (0,345kg animal(-1)), and of 20% on the production per area (209kg ha(-1) of LW) when compared to a management of 12% over the year.