The trial was carried out from August/1997 to April/1998 to evaluate a Coastcross-1 (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers) grazed pasture, under four dry matter residue levels (DMR: 1978; 2130; 2545; 3857 kg of DM/ha), with continuous grazing and variable stocking rate. Chemical composition, as crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) contents, in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) and ewes performance were evaluated. A complete randomized design with two replications was used. CP content in forage did not significantly differ according to DMR levels and length of experimental period. NDF and ADF contents linearly decreased as DMR increased, but increased as grazing period (days) progressed. IVDMD linearly increased as DMR levels increased but decreased as length of experimental period. Average daily gain (ADG) and live weight gain quadractly increased as DMR levels and the amount of dry matter in green leaves/ha increased, and the same was verified for live weight gain/ha according to DMR levels.
animal performance; crude protein; in vitro dry matter digestibility; acid detergent fiber; neutral detergent fiber; average daily gain
