Resumen

MILIANI, Tisbey et al. Utilization of a deciduous forest by grazing bovines. Zootecnia Trop. [online]. 2008, vol.26, n.3, pp.301-303. ISSN 0798-7269.

With the objective to evaluate the utilization of a deciduous forest by grazing bovines at northeast of Guarico state, Venezuela, in dry and rainy seasons in 2007, it was carried out an experiment with a factorial design with randomized blocks. For that, there were used mixed dual purpose heifers with a grazing pressure of 6 kg DM/100 kg LW. The evaluated treatments were three grazing conditions: OG: Grazing of star grass (Cynodon nlemfuensis), RAF: Grazing of C. nlemfuensis with restricted access to the forest (5 h) and OAF: Grazing of C. nlemfuensis with open access to the forest. The area used for the treatments with forest was 2 ha. Dry matter utilization of grasses, litter, tree foliage, and fallen fruits were measured. No significant differences were found for grass utilization among treatments. However, significant differences (P<0.01) were observed due to season, being higher at the dry season due to the absence of pasture growing. Significant differences were also found for the season by grazing type interaction on the litter and tree foliage utilization. It is concluded that by means of the use of the forest, animals tend to diversify their diets, improving the selectivity capabilities.

Palabras clave : grazing; season; utilization; bovines; grazing pressure.

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