Marcelo Osorio Wallau

• Agronomist, PhD
• Professor (Associate) at University of Florida

Understanding the relationship between vegetation attributes and defoliation patterns at multiple spatiotemporal scales is crucial for optimising grazing systems. This study assessed the structural attributes of vegetation and the effects of defoliation frequency and intensity in a campos grassland under two herbage allowance (HA) levels. Vegetatio...

The pasture–animal interface of warm-season perennial grass–legume mixed pastures has never been investigated in forage-based equine systems. Therefore, this 2-year study investigated the herbage and animal responses under 84-day continuous stocking in mixed pastures of rhizoma peanut (RP, Arachis glabrata Benth) and bahiagrass (BG, Paspalum notatu...

The toxicity of grasses caused by mycotoxins has led to economic losses in the United States due to the health impact on livestock feeding on it. Florida's warm and humid weather is favorable for the growth of mycotoxin-producing fungi on grasses. The JECFA has provided evaluations and risk management for some high-risk mycotoxins; however, more re...

Grasses and legumes co-exist in grasslands partially because of nitrogen (N) niche partitioning and facilitation. Grasses stimulate legume biological N fixation (BNF) by depleting soil N, simultaneously benefiting from the N that legumes fix. While these responses and mechanisms are maximized at ~ 40% legume proportion in temperate grass-legume mix...

Bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.) is a perennial forage used in livestock systems for its high productivity and nutritive value. Sulfosulfuron (S) and Metsulfuron-Methyl (MSM) are two active ingredients used for weed control in bermudagrass, targeting sedges and broadleaf weeds, respectively. MS is recommended for application in established bermudagrass....

Integrating legumes into grass pastures is an alternative to nitrogen (N) fertilizer for improving productive, economic, and environmental performance of grazing systems. However, optimal legume proportion for maximizing resource‐use efficiency in mixed pastures is seldom considered. Here, we studied the effect of rhizoma peanut (Arachis glabrata B...

Farm and site visits are a major component of Extension work, whether as a county faculty or state specialist. They serve various purposes, such as informal check-ins, relationship-building, problem-solving, sharing technology, and information collection. While time-consuming, farm visits are often the most effective method for addressing problems...

Providing an ideal amino acid profile to horses improves nitrogen (N) utilization and reduces N excretion. This 2-yr study investigated protein concentration and amino acid profile of forages during 84 d of continuous stocking of mixed pastures of rhizoma peanut (RP; Arachis glabrataBenth) and bahiagrass (BG; Paspalum notatumFlüggé) receiving 30 kg...

Understanding the mechanistic link between plant functional traits and foraging patterns across seasons and grazing intensities is crucial for implementing sustainable grazing systems and predicting ecological successions. We assessed the interaction effects of grazing intensity, season, and leaf functional traits on herbivore grazing patterns in a...

Aims Changes in species composition and intraspecific trait variation are recognized as potential drivers of population and community temporal dynamics but their independent and overlapping effects have not been distinguished conclusively. Our goal was to quantify the relevance of temporal vs spatial changes in species composition and intraspecific...

FL12034‐10’ (Reg. no. CV‐389, PI 704483), a facultative oat (Avena sativa L.) cultivar, co‐developed by the University of Florida and Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, was released in October 2022. FL12034‐10 was derived from a three‐way cross LA06055SBSBSB‐79/FL11048 F1. It is well adapted across the southern United States and provid...

Corn (Zea mays L.) is an important silage source for dairy cattle production in the southeastern United States. Silage corn is often grown continuously, which frequently results in severe pressure from plant‐parasitic nematodes such as sting nematode (Belonolaimus longicaudatus). Crop rotation is one of the few nematode management options available...

Grazing management frequently relies on forage availability as an indicator of performance. However, canopy structure and composition can play an important role in foraging behavior and intake in native grasslands. Here, we aim to (1) assess the effect of grazing management on herbage biomass, tussock cover, average canopy and inter‐tussock canopy...

Theoretical framework: This study is grounded in Social Management, a paradigm that focuses on society's deliberative process for public decisions. It also employs the Rapid Participatory and Emancipatory Research (RPER) method, an adaptation of rapid and participatory appraisals, to apply social management in rural contexts. Research objectives: I...

Warm‐season perennial grasses are the backbone of the pasture‐based livestock industry in the lower southeastern United States, and bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.) is the most widely planted forage species, covering ∼15 million ha. The genus Cynodon is native to southern Africa, and germplasm collections possess high genetic and phenotypic variability....

The beef cattle ranchers in Florida reported some health issues related to cattle grazing on warm-season grass pastures, such as bahiagrass and bermudagrass. The illness was not attributable to nutritional imbalances, or other possible causes. The focus then turned to what the animals were consuming, and forages were implicated. In general, the for...

Winter annual forages can extend grazing into the cool‐season in the US southeast, however uncertainty regarding potential tradeoffs between winter annual mixtures versus monocultures exists. We examined increasingly species‐rich and functionally diverse winter annual forage mixtures at two Florida locations to evaluate impacts of including more pl...

Integrated crop–livestock (ICL) systems have shown potential to provide a variety of environmental benefits including soil carbon (C) increases relative to conventional row cropping systems. However, studies documenting C dynamics of ICL systems in the northern Great Plains are lacking relative to other agroecosystems. Soil carbon dioxide (CO2) eff...

Assertions about grazing management and grazing systems should be evaluated based on the scientific literature. Prior assumptions can limit our ability to achieve constructive dialogue regarding the merits of various stocking methods. These include the assumption that rotational stocking is inherently superior to continuous stocking, regardless of...

Overseeding alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) into grass swards increases forage nutritive value and reduces N fertilizer requirement. In warm climates, establishing and maintaining alfalfa in mixtures with vigorous C4 grasses is challenging, which makes adjustment of defoliation management critical. The objective of this 2‐year study was to determine o...

Bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flüggé) cultivars used for forage in the southeastern United States are primarily diploids. Although producers favor tetraploid traits, for example, wider leaf blades and fewer inflorescences, compared to diploids, there are barriers to their greater use, including apomictic reproduction, lesser frost tolerance, and lat...

FLLA09015‐U1’ (Reg. no. CV‐387, PI 699117) is a new facultative oat (Avena sativa L.) cultivar that was co‐developed by the University of Florida and Louisiana State University Agricultural Center and was released in 2019. This line was derived from a single cross of FL0210‐J1/MN06203. FLLA09015‐U1 has considerable potential for grain and forage yi...

Questions The adjustment of grazing pressure affects above‐ground biomass and its variation in space and time, which is a tool in grassland management for biodiversity conservation and livestock production. Here we ask to what extent the variation in above‐ground biomass at the scale of quadrats is predictive of (1) community‐weighted means (CWMs)...

Characterizing phenotypic variation in germplasm collections is crucial for plant breeding. Cynodon spp. accessions maintained at the USDA National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS), and the core forage collection were screened in a replicated trial under two nitrogen rates (0 and 150 kg ha⁻¹ per harvest) in Ardmore, OK. The goals for this study were t...

We revisited terminology and assertions about grazing management in general, but more specifically the choice of the stocking method, and considered their merit in the context of evidence from the literature, including a chapter entitled Prescribed Grazing on Pasturelands from a National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) literature synthesis pub...

FLLA11019‐8’ (Reg. no. CV‐386, PI 700040) is new facultative oat (Avena sativa L.) cultivar for the southern United States for forage, grain, cover, and wildlife food crop uses. It was co‐developed by the University of Florida and Louisiana State University Agricultural Center and was released in 2020 under the SunGrains, a cooperative small grain...

CONTEXT A challenge facing the livestock sector is improving beef production while mitigating negative environmental impacts. Analyzing its past productive and environmental performance may elucidate strategies for improving efficiency of grassland-based systems and identify future research and public policy priorities. OBJECTIVES Describe past an...

Wild pigs (Sus scrofa L.) are considered one of the 100 worst invasive species, causing adverse social, economic, and environmental impacts worldwide. Understanding their historical invasion process and following the distribution across the territory can serve as a preoccupant alert for the species’ quick expansion. Our goal was to update the infor...

Overseeding alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) into existing bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon L. (Pers.)] swards may reduce N fertilizer inputs and improve seasonal distribution of forage. However, achieving successful alfalfa stands in mixture with bermudagrass is difficult because of competition from the grass. This experiment's objective was to assess s...

Sorghum forage is an important alternative to high-quality forage in regions where climatic and soil conditions are less desirable for corn production for silage and producing comparable nutritive value is challenging. The objective of this experiment was to assess the effects of season (spring vs. summer), sorghum variety type (forage sorghum vs....

This guide provides concepts and research-based information on animal, environment, forage, and soil topics for Extension educators and producers in the Southeast region. The authors do not assume any responsibility, make any guarantees, or offer any warranties regarding the results obtained from the use of any management strategies included in thi...

This publication is a second article on silage crops for dairy and beef cattle that explores crop choices and agronomic aspects of silage production in Florida, from planting until preparing to harvest for sorghum, sorghum x sudan, pearl millet, and cool-season small grain silages. Written by Marcelo Wallau, Joao Vendramini, Adegbola Adesogan, Diwa...

This publication covers crop choices and agronomic aspects of silage production in Florida, from planting until preparing to harvest, for corn. Written by Marcelo Wallau, Joao Vendramini, Adegbola Adesogan, Diwakar Vyas, and Kevin Korus, and published by the UF/IFAS Agronomy Department, revised February 2022.

This publication provides practical information on forage planting on prepared seedbeds to producers or anyone interested in establishing pastures. Written by M. O. Wallau, J. Vendramini, and Ed Jennings, and published by the UF/IFAS Agronomy Department, revised January 2022.

This publication provides information on the identification, biology, and management of brunswickgrass. Written by Ann Blount, Marcelo Wallau, Brent Sellers, Dennis Hancock, Leanne Dillard, Jose Dubeux, Cheryl Mackowiak, Joao Vendramini, and Clay Cooper, and published by the UF/IFAS Agronomy Department, revised January 2022.

The onboarding needs of Extension agents is a topic continuously discussed and researched, yet overwhelmed agents persist, suggesting that there is a missing link. We undertook a study to determine the competency training needs of newly hired agricultural agents in Florida. Two assessments were performed. First to identify main agriculture skills a...

SUMMARY: • Seasonal changes in herbage allowance affected the cows selectivity across contrasting species • Cows adjusted the grazing pattern through the grazing probability and not through the intensity of defoliation • Continuous grazing do not determine the higher grazing probability and allow selectivity using seasonal herbage allowance changes...

The list of cool-season forage recommendations for wildlife in this publication includes varieties that have been tested and are known to perform well in Florida. Written by M. Wallau, A. R. Blount, J. M. Campos-Krauer, M. A. Lashley, E. Rios, J. M. B. Vendramini, J. C. B. Dubeux, Md. A. Babar, C. L. Mackowiak, and K. H. Quesenberry, and published...

This publication details techniques for chemical weed control prior to and during pasture establishment and is intended for county Extension faculty as well as owners and managers of grazing lands. Written by Brent Sellers, Pratap Devkota, Joao Vendramini, and Marcelo Wallau, and published by the UF/IFAS Agronomy Department, revised August 2021.

This publication provides the most up-to-date information on adapted cool-season forage varieties. Written by M. Wallau, A. R. Blount, E. Rios, J. M. B. Vendramini, J. C. B. Dubeux, Md. A. Babar, K. E. Kenworthy, M. Mulvaney, and K. H. Quesenberry, and published by the UF/IFAS Agronomy Department, revised August 2021.

Many of the studies in Campos grasslands focus on management aspects such as the control of herbage allowance, and application of nutrients and/or overseeding with legumes. However, there is little literature on how the Campos grassland resource is utilised, especially regarding the grazing pattern and the relationship between pasture quantity and...

Determining herbage intake is pivotal for studies on grazing ecology. Direct observation of animals allows describing the interactions of animals with the pastoral environment along the complex grazing process. The objectives of the study were to evaluate the reliability of the continuous bite monitoring (CBM) method in determining herbage intake i...

Wearable sensing technologies can be used for precision livestock production and to study foraging strategies to better understand the relationships between herbivores, vegetation, and landscape. In this context, monitoring grazing behavior (i.e. chew and bite events) can provide critical information for livestock management. This study presents a...

This study aimed to assess the effects of a heterofermentative microbial inoculant and storage length on fermentation profile, aerobic stability, and nutrient composition in whole-plant sorghum silage (WPSS) from different varieties. Experiment 1, a completely randomized design with a 2 × 3 factorial treatment arrangement, evaluated microbial inocu...

Objective We aimed to evaluate the effects of season (SEA), relative maturity (RM), and seeding rate (SR) on yield, nutrient composition, ruminal in vitro NDF digestibility at 30 h, and predicted milk yield in whole-plant corn forage grown in subtropical regions. Materials and Methods During the summer of 2016 and spring of 2017, 3 hybrids varying...

Agriculture, and livestock production in particular, is criticized for being a contributor to global environmental change, including emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG). Methane (CH4) from grazing ruminants accounts for most of livestock's carbon footprint because a large share of them are reared under suboptimal grazing conditions, usually resulti...

Planning and preparation can increase chances of successful outcomes from demonstration plots. This 5-page publication focuses on guiding the successful establishment of demonstration trials and is targeted to county, regional, and state specialized Extension faculty who aim to develop on-farm research and demonstration sites as part of their progr...

This study used an online survey to gather information on forage utilization and pasture management practices implemented on horse farms in Florida. We hypothesized that pastures were inadequately managed and underutilized, resulting in greater reliance on hay. Data from 80 complete responses were submitted to descriptive analysis and Fisher’s exac...

Intercropping legume into grass pastures improves pasture quality and decreases the need for nitrogen (N) fertilizer, while providing a more heterogenic grazing environment. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of rhizoma peanut (RP, Arachis glabrata) intercropped into bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum) pasture on horse grazing performance. Unfertili...

The Southeast (SE) Hay Contest was started by a group of Extension agents from across the SE with the objective of increasing producer knowledge of the relative forage quality (RFQ) index. Since its inception, the program has grown to over 350 hay and baleage samples annually. Forage samples were categorized into warm-season perennial grass hay (WS...

Discussing grazing management can easily be just as problematic as other controversial topics such as politics, religion and sports. Everyone has a style, “mine is better than yours” and “this is the right way.” Flipping through pages of popular press magazines or webpages, we have all sorts of discussions about which methods are the best, some nov...

The Cynodon spp. collection maintained by United States Department of Agriculture National Plant Germplasm System (USDA-NPGS) has limited information on nutritive value (NV) traits. In this study, crude protein (CP), phosphorous concentration (P), in vitro digestible organic matter (IVDOM), and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) were determined to (i) e...

Perennial warm-season pasture grasses used in Florida become dormant in late fall and winter because of short days, cooler temperatures, and frosts. Many livestock producers may choose to establish cool-season annual pasture species to supplement their forage production. These plants are usually higher in total digestible nutrients (TDN) and crude...

This 10-page document is primarily for Extension agents and farmers looking for detailed information about bermudagrass production in Florida, including cultivar characteristics, fertilization, and pest and disease management. Written by M. O. Wallau, J. M. B. Vendramini, and J. K. Yarborough, and published by the UF/IFAS Agronomy Department, revis...

Herbivores create and respond to grassland vegetation patterns in dynamic, interactive ways that can be beneficial or detrimental. Interactions among herbivores and grasslands occur in several scales of space and time. This chapter deals with the interactions between plants and grasslands and herbivores, focusing on the nature and complexity and sc...

Stockpiling warm‐season perennial grasses for winter grazing is an important management practice for beef cattle production systems in tropical and subtropical regions. Limpograss [Hemarthria altissima (Poir.) Stapf et C.E. Hubb.] has greater digestibility at late maturity than other commonly used warm‐season perennial grasses; however, decreased c...

Objective Our objective was to evaluate the effects of 5 planting densities (148,000, 198,000, 247,000, 297,000, and 346,000 seeds/ha) on the nutritive value, DM yield, and predicted milk yield from 2 brachytic dwarf (shortening of plants by reducing length between internodes) brown midrib-6 forage sorghum hybrids (Advanta Seeds, AF7401; Advanta Se...

Wearable sensing technologies can be used for precision livestock applications and to study foraging behaviors. In this context, the monitoring of chews and bites events is a critical task for livestock management. This study presents a computational tool that utilizes wearable sensing and machine learning to distinguish chew and bite events. A mic...

This 5-page minor revision brings an updated list of recommended species and cultivars for the establishment of wildlife plots in Florida. Written by A. R. Blount, M. Wallau, H. K. Ober, E. Rios, J. M. B. Vendramini, J. C. B. Dubeux, Md. A. Babar, C. L. Mackowiak, and K. H. Quesenberry, and published by the Agronomy Department, October 2019. SS-AGR...

Myriogenospora atramentosa is an epibiont fungus that produces black, linear stromata on the leaves of warm-season grasses including Paspalum and Andropogon. Because M. atramentosa is in the family Clavicipitaceae containing several ergot alkaloid-producing fungi, its mycotoxin production and the potential risk to cattle health are of concern. Limp...

Early relationships between young mammalian herbivores and social models (e.g., mothers or peers) have been proposed as playing a major role in the process of diet learning. Diet selection is an important factor influencing animal development and ecology, especially in natural and seminatural grasslands, with a large diversity of plant species. To...

This publication provides the most up-to-date information on current adapted cool-season forage varieties. The recommendation of varieties is based on multi-location, multi-year cultivar evaluation experiments that may include trials in Georgia and other states. Table 1 includes information about the planting dates, seeding rates, and other conside...

This 10-page document discusses bahiagrass forage cultivars, forage production, nutritive value, animal performance, planting, pasture renovation, management, and more. Written by Marcelo Wallau, Joao Vendramini, José Dubeux, and Ann Blount, and published by the UF/IFAS Agronomy Department, revised July 2019. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ag342 Origina...

This new 6-page document explains methods to measure forage mass and utilize that information to estimate an adequate stocking rate. Written by Jose Dubeux, Marcelo Wallau, João Vendramini, Liliane Silva, Jane Griffin, Nicolas DiLorenzo, and Erick Santos, and published by the UF/IFAS Agronomy Department, June 2019. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ag434

Determining forage moisture is an essential procedure for estimating forage mass in pastures, determining harvesting or baling point for preserved forages, and calculating dry matter of feedstuff for total mixed rations. This 3-page document discusses methods and pieces of equipment available to estimate forage moisture. Written by M. Wallau and J....

Grazing management strategies play an important role in determining the production and quality of a forage-based diet for animals and help improve the sustainability and feasibility of production systems. Stocking rate (SR, the number of animals grazing a unit of land over a specified time) and carrying capacity (the maximum number of animals or an...

Available at : http://animal.ifas.ufl.edu/beef_extension/bcsc/2019/docs/2019_Proceedings_Manual.pdf

Florida's unique climatic characteristics allow for forage production most of the year with a large variety of possible forage choices. Independent of the size of the operation and number of horses, good forage planning can help reduce feeding costs, environmental impacts, and nutritional disorders caused by high-concentrate feeding. With the excep...

Instructions on how to calibrate forage seeding equipment. Originally written by C. G. Chambliss (deceased) and M.B. Adjei (deceased) in June 1999. Original EDIS publication date April 2002. This major revision November 2018 by Marcelo Wallau, Joao Vendramini, and Ed Jennings. The information in this document was adapted from Production and Utiliza...

Forage variety recommendation for wildlife. Revised October 2019. Previous version: Blount, A., S. Olson, D. Francis, C. Mackowiak, H. Ober, J. Freeman, K. Quesenberry, R. Barnett, T. Wilson, and R. Gornto. 2013. “A Walk on the Wild Side: 2013 Cool-Season Forage Recommendations for Wildlife Food Plots in North Florida”. EDIS 2013 (11). https://jour...

Beef cattle producers in Florida have expressed concerns about the potential presence of mycotoxins in summer perennial forages. In other regions of the US, mycotoxins in forage crops have caused productivity and economic losses. This 3-page fact sheet provides information about the current state of knowledge regarding mycotoxins in Florida perenni...

Nitrogen (N) is one of the major off-farm inputs in livestock systems, either in the form of N fertilizer or purchased feed. Fortunately, you can reduce those expenses by growing your own nitrogen using forage legumes. Rhizoma perennial peanut (RPP) is a legume adapted to the Florida environment that grows well in mixtures with bahiagrass. This 4-p...

Grazing management can be defined as the manipulation of livestock grazing to accomplish a desired result. The desired result depends upon the enterprise, but for most producers economic goals are of primary importance. Decisions regarding what grazing management to use are based on the characteristics of the forage being grazed, animal requirement...

Brunswickgrass (Paspalum nicorae Parodi) is becoming a problematic weed in summer perennial grass pastures in the Southeast. The plant is competitive with bahiagrass and bermudagrass. Since it is less palatable, it can eventually dominate a perennial grass pasture. Brunswickgrass has become naturalized and has reportedly contaminated bahiagrass see...

Why should I diversify my pasture base? One of the greatest benefits to livestock production in Florida is our great capacity for producing forage. We have species adapted to most of our climatic and soil conditions, and plenty of choices for each season which allows for grazing almost year-round. With this said, most of the beef cattle production...

Southern cow-calf producers are expected to experience multiple years of tight margins and cash flow constraints due to cattle market prices adjusting to price levels below the average cost of production. To combat this, a team of Extension specialists from across the Southeast United States began working on areas to reduce cow-calf cost of product...

Wild pigs (Sus scrofa) have expanded their range in Brazil since late 1980s, with reports of damage becoming more frequent in recent years. In 2013, use of lethal methods for wild pig control was legalized by the federal environmental agency. However, several restrictions related to the purchase and transportation of guns and ammunition hamper the...

In the Southeast US, N-fertilized perennial warm-season grass forage systems predominate. Cool-season forages are an alternative to reduce winter feed and hay purchases by extending the grazing season. Introduction of legumes can decrease off-farm inputs, optimizing delivery of ecosystem services and reducing C footprint. The objectives were to est...

Winter legumes are important in forage production in Florida. They are frost tolerant and can supply highly nutritious feed during the winter and spring months. When properly inoculated, they supply nitrogen for their own growth and provide nitrogen for other plants growing with or following them. This document provides information on the different...

30 anos de pesquisa em Campo Nativo

Estudo sobre o desenvolvimento do pastejo de equinos em pastagem natural