Leaf tissue flow in Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) was quantified in three grazing intensities. The intensities corresponded to the disappearance of 21.1 ('Low'), 43.3 ('Mean') and 61.0% ('High') of the initial forage mass on each grazing cycle. The experimental animals were ewe lambs and the thermal sum of 313 degree-days determined the interval among grazing. The experimental design was completely randomized with three treatments and four replicates. In intensity 'Low' the highest growth and senescence flows were registered, respectively, 85.6 and 54.6kg ha day-1 of DM. In 'Mean' and 'High' intensities the growth and intake flows were higher in the beginning of pasture utilization and the senescence flow increased with the development of the Italian ryegrass cycle. It is recommended the use of the 43.3% grazing intensity which allowed greater values of intake flow, with mean growth and senescence flows.
ewe lambs; growth flow; intake flow; rotational grazing; senescence flow
