The objective of this trial was to study the dynamics of pasture containing black oat (Avena strigosa Schreb) plus ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam) on beef heifers receiving different levels of supplementation. The following treatments were used: 'No Supplement'- animals in black oat plus ryegrass pasture; 'Increasing' - animals in black oat plus ryegrass pasture and fed increasing levels of supplement: 0.3; 0.6; 0.9; and 1.2 to 1.5% of body weight (BW) during the pasture cycle; 'Fixed' - animals in black oat plus ryegrass pasture and fed 0.9% of BW as supplement during the entire pasture cycle; or 'Decreasing' - animals in black oat plus ryegrass pasture and fed decreasing levels of supplement: 1.5; 1.2; 0.9; and 0.6 to 0.3% of BW during the pasture cycle. The supplement contained only wheat bran. The following variables were measured: forage yield, rate of daily accumulation of DM, forage allowance, green leaf allowance, green forage mass, and leaf:stem ratio. Oat leaf, oat stem, ryegrass leaf, ryegrass stem, and dead material all expressed as a percentage of FM were also evaluated. The nutritive value of the forage apparent consumed by the heifers was determined through measurements of contents of crude protein (CP), 'in vitro' organic matter digestibility, total digestible nutrients, and neutral detergent fiber. Although pasture cycle did affect the studied variables, the opposite was observed with different levels of supplementation in the current trial.
Avena strigosa; wheat bran; Lolium multiflorum; green leaf allowance; continuous grazing
