Performance of intact and castrated nelore steers grazing Brachiaria humidicola (Rendle) Schweick (Poaceae) alone and intercropped with forage peanut

Abstract

Abstract This study aimed to assess the performance of intact and castrated beef cattle on the pasture of Brachiaria humidicola alone and intercropped with Arachis pintoi cv. BRS Mandobi. The experiment was carried out from February to June 2016 on the private property of a partner of Embrapa Acre. The experimental design was completely randomized in a 2×2 factorial arrangement, with two sex classes (intact and castrated) and two types of pasture (alone and intercropped). The leaf to stem ratio was high (P<0.05) in the pasture alone. No significant difference was found for stocking rates. Dry matter intake was high (P<0.05) in the intercropped pasture compared to that alone, with means of 8.96 and 6.66 kg/ day, respectively. Animals managed in intercropped pastures had better performance (P<0.05) than those castrated under pasture alone. Nelore steers castrated at 20 months of age, managed under intercropped pastures, showed similar productive performance (P>0.05) to intact animals.