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Production of lambs under continuous ryegrass grazing subjected to nitrogen

It was evaluated the effect of nitrogen fertilization in ryegrass pasture (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) on the production of meat lamb under continuous grazing. Ryegrass pasture was established under no-tillage cropping in area of animal-crop integration system. The fertilization was held with 60kg of P2O5 ha-1 and 60kg of K²O ha-1. The treatments corresponded to the doses 0; 75; 150 e 225kg of N ha-1, in the urea form (45% de N) in single application, 35 days after seeding. The evaluation period was of 84 days. The forage was influenced quadratic ally by N rates, with minimum point at 182.75kg of N ha-1. However, the supply of leaf blades (LFM) was not influenced by doses of N (3.8kg LFM 100kg-1 live weight) or by the average daily weight gain, averaging 0.133 kg of LW an day. For stocking rate and live weight gain per area the doses of N increased 3.0 kg of LW-1 ha-1 and 1.1kg of LW ha-1, respectively for each kg of N applied. Nitrogen fertilization provides increases in animal productivity which results in increase kg of meat produced in this system.

stocking rate; weight gain; animal-crop integration system; lambs; urea


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