Forage production and stocking rate of Coastcross pastures overseeded with winter grasses

The objective of this research was to evaluate the forage production and stocking rate (SR) of four Coastcross (Cynodon dactylon L. Pers.) pastures overseeded with ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam. cv. Common); ryegrass plus white clover (Trifolium repens L., cv. Yi) over bermudagrass; ryegrass plus white clover and ryegrass. The experiment was carried out from May 15 to October 24, 2006, in five grazing periods. Holstein cows receiving 3.5 kg/daily complementary concentrate feed were used in the evaluation. In the pre and post grazing periods, the forage mass, botanical and structural pasture composition and the stocking rate were assessed. A randomized complete design was used, with four treatments (pastures) and two replications (paddocks), in five grazing cycles. No differences in herbage mass and stocking rate averages were detected among pastures. The ryegrass pastures had larger ryegrass leaf blade herbage mass production. The overseeded pastures had larger forage production. Overseeding with ryegrass and white clover on Coastcross extend the use period of annual grass and increase forage production.