Effect of Grazing Order on Live-Weight Gain of Young Female Beef Cattle

In order to evaluate the daily live-weight gain and overall live weight of 2 groups of 30 female beef calves from weaning until 2 years of age, an experiment was run at Field Station al Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, in Eldorado do Sul district. Group A was introduced to the paddocks first, and the animals were allowed to graze half the available pasture. These animals were then removed and group B was introduced and grazed the remaining available pasture, During the first (28 June 1990-19 October 1990), and second (12 June 1991-16 October 1991 ), winter-spring seasons, the calves rotationally grazed paddocks of Trifolium vesiculosum cv. Yuchi and annual ryegrass (Loilum multiflorum). Between the two periods, summer and autumn (19 October 1990-12 June 1991), they were set stocked on native pastures. Average live weights were obtained after a 15 to 16-h . fasting period. Animals entering the pasture first grew faster than those entering second. However, both groups of heifers reached the minimum weight required 10 be mated al 2 years old, regardless of the managements imposed.