Abstract
Effect of grazing intensity on pasture productivity was investigated twice in two Sorghum spp. (S. bicolor (L.) Moench and S. sudanense (Piper) Stapf) pastures under two stocking rates (light intensity ; L and heavy intensity ; H) of short-term grazing. Across stocking rates and Sorghum spp., herbage production, herbage intake and carrying capacity ranged in 3781-9038 kgDM/ha, 6.0-22.5 kgDM/head/day and 96-180 cow-day, respectively, during total grazing periods. Cyanide (HCNp) intake tended to be lower in H at 0.4-2.2 gDM/head/day than in L at 0.8-4.3 gDM/head/day, while herbage utilization rate averaged at 68.2% in H was higher than that in L averaged at 42.8%. These results suggested that Sorghum spp. pastures should be used under the heavy intensity of short-term grazing, which tended to inhibit the increase in HCNp intake and improve pasture productivity and herbage utilization rate, compared with the light intensity.
