Productivity and chemical composition of Brachiaria humidicola under stockpiled in Rondônia´s savannas

Abstract

The effect of the stockpiled period on the production and chemical composition of forage Brachiaria humidicola during the dry season, was evaluated in an experiment conducted in Vilhena, Rondônia. The experimental design was randomized blocks with split plots and three replications. The periods of stockpiled (February 28, March 28 and April 28) represented the main plots and utilization periods (June 30, July 30, August 30 and 30 September) the subplots. The results suggest the feasibility of the deferral of the grass, so if you have supplementation of forage for livestock during the dry season. The highest yields of dry matter (DM) were observed with the deferral in February and uses in June and July. Regardless of the stockpiled, there was a significant reduction (P<0.05) of crude protein and digestibility in vitro DM digestibility (IVDMD) with increasing plant age. The stockpiled in April using in June provided forage with higher crude protein, however the highest yields were obtained with the stockpiled in February and pasture utilization in June and July. The highest coefficients of IVDMD were registered with the stockpiled in March or April and utilization in June. Aimed at reconciling production and forage quality, it is recommended stockpiled in February for pasture utilization in June and July, and stockpiled in April to pasture utilization in August and September.