Effect of the height and shape of Cynodon grasses or the equines preferences for eating

Abstract

The experiment was conducted at the experimental farm of the Federal University of
Paraná, in February, 1998, and investigated the effect of the different Cynodon grasses structure at
the horse grazing. The Cynodon spp. cv Tifton 85, Cynodon nlemfuensis cv Tifton 68, Cynodon spp.
cv Tifton 44, Cynodon nlemfuensis (¨Porto Rico¨) and Cynodon nlemfuensis (¨Estrela Roxa¨) grasses
were distributed in parcels with 12 m2 in a completely randomized split-plot design with four replications.
The parcels were divided in two kinds of patches (tall and short) demonstrated by plants height. Five
grazing tests were done with mares, evaluating the number of bites allocated in each treatment. The
preference was evaluated by bite number and tiller grazed on each treatment. The bite depth was
measured using 20 marked tillers in each experimental unit. The animals showed preference for
Tifton 85, followed by Coastcross 1, Tifton 68 and Tifton 44. The star grasses ¨Estrela Roxa¨ and
¨Porto Rico¨ were not preferred. Tifton 85 and Coastcross 1 with more leaves and less stems mass
(P<0,05), and with tall patches and higher tillers, were preferred by mares. A linear relationship was
found between the tiller height extended and the bite depth. The structure of Cynodon grasses like
leaves mass, leaves/stems relation, patches and plants height are important for horse grazing
preference.