Pasture and animal responses of Coastcross swards grazed by sheep under continuous stocking

Pasture and animal responses of Coastcross (Cynodon spp.) swards were evalu ated under four steady state conditions (sward surface heights of 5, 10, 15 and 20 cm), established by sheep under continuous stocking and variable st ocking rate from August/98 to April/99. Sward surface heights were allocate d to experimental units randomly, according to a complete randomized block design, with four replications. The variables evaluated were herbage nutrit ive value, morphological composition of the herbage as grazed hand sample a nd of the sward, herbage accumulation rate and animal performance. All swar ds presented high nutritive value of the grazed herbage during spring and s ummer, with the best values observed for the sward height of 5 cm. Herbage accumulation rates were highest in summer, which generated higher dry matte r availability and animal performance.