Beef cattle performance in response to Ipypora and Marandu brachiariagrass cultivars under rotational stocking management

The objective of this two-year study was to evaluate live weight gain per animal and per area and their relationships with the characteristics of BRS Ipypora (Brachiaria ruziziensis x Brachiaria brizantha) and Marandu (Brachiaria brizantha) pastures. A completely randomized block design was used with two treatments and four replicates. The grazing method was rotational stocking, with variable stocking rate. Stocking rate was adjusted twice a week during the grazing period (six or seven days) and post-grazing canopy height target of 15 cm. Animals were weighed every 28 days. Pastures were evaluated pre-grazing to estimate forage accumulation rate, forage mass (FM), leaf (LP) and stem (SP) percentages, and nutritive value. In the postgrazing, FM, LP, and SP were evaluated. Marandu palisadegrass pastures had greater FAR, pre-grazing FM, and hence, a greater SR when compared with BRS Ipypora. However, compared with Marandu, BRS Ipypora showed greater LP, leaf: stem ratio, crude protein, and in vitro organic matter digestibility, resulting in greater individual live weight gain. The lesser stocking rate in Ipypora pastures was compensated, providing a greater individual live weight gain of steers, resulting in a similar live weight gain per area for the two cultivars. Thus, BRS Ipypora is a good alternative for the diversification of pastures in the Cerrado region.