Produção de forragem e estrutura do capim-cayana submetido a distintos períodos de diferimento

Abstract

The seasonality of forage production is one of the main challenges faced by Brazilian livestock farming, which is predominantly pasture-based. In this context, deferred grazing emerges as an efficient strategy to ensure feed availability during the dry season. This study aimed to evaluate forage production and the structure of cayana grass (Urochloa spp. cv. Cayana) subjected to different deferment periods (69, 95, and 124 days). The experiment was conducted at the Capim Branco Experimental Farm, in Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, between February and June 2025, using paddocks of 2,800 m². The results showed that the deferment period influenced both forage production and morphological composition. The 124-day treatment, the longest deferment period evaluated, presented the highest forage mass at the end of deferment (15,387 kg/ha of DM) and expected stocking rate (5.7 AU/ha), but with a high proportion of dead material, especially dead stems. On the other hand, the 69-day deferment period, the shortest, resulted in lower forage mass at the end of deferment (7,344 kg/ha of DM) and expected stocking rate (2.7 AU/ha), but with a greater amount of live leaves and lower stem mass, which favors forage quality. Therefore, the longest deferment period promoted higher forage production, but with poorer morphological characteristics.