02244naa a2200265 a 450000100080000000500110000800800410001902200140006002400330007410000210010724501820012826000090031050001090031952012800042865300250170865300230173365300150175665300200177165300220179170000160181370000170182970000160184670000170186277300990187910611752020-07-01       2020    bl uuuu     u00u1 u    #d  a2346-37757 a10.17138/TGFT(8)141-1462DOI1 aBENVENUTTI, M.A.  aThe effect of stage of regrowth on the physical composition and nutritive value of the various vertical strata of kikuyu (Cenchrus clandestinus) pastures.h[electronic resource]  c2020  aArticle history: Received for publication 2 July 2019; accepted 15 February 2020; published 31 May 2020.  aAbstract: A plot study was conducted at the Gatton Research Dairy, Queensland, Australia, to quantify the effects of 5 regrowth periods (9, 11, 14, 16 and 18 days) and 4 vertical strata on the composition and nutritive value of kikuyu (Cenchrus clandestinus) pastures using a block factorial design with 4 replicates. Pasture samples were analyzed for crude protein (CP), ethanol-soluble carbohydrates (ESC), acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (aNDFom), in vitro indigestible neutral detergent fibre (iNDF240) and minerals. Metabolizable energy (ME) was then calculated from the concentrations of other nutrients. Regardless of the stage of regrowth, stems were located mainly in the bottom 1 or 2 strata, while leaves were present mainly in the top 2 or 3 strata. CP, ESC and ME declined, but aNDFom, ADF and iNDF240 increased with stage of regrowth and from top to bottom of the swards (P<0.05). While herbage quality variables were affected by both factors, vertical stratum had a much larger impact on quality than stage of regrowth. These results indicate that grazing management of kikuyu pastures should be based not only on stage of regrowth but also on level of defoliation, as both have strong impacts on the nutritive value of the consumed forage.  aCHEMICAL COMPOSITION  aGRAZING MANAGEMENT  aLEAF STAGE  aSWARD STRUCTURE  aTROPICAL PASTURES1 aFINDSEN, G.1 aSAVIAN, J.V.1 aMAYER, D.G.1 aBARBER, D.G.  tTropical Grassland-Forrajes Tropicales, 2020gv.8(2), p. 141-146. Doi: 10.17138/TGFT(8)141-146