Alonso et al., 2013. Livest. Res. Rur. Dev., 25 (11): 192

A research was conducted in the Institute of Animal Science to identify the time to start grazing Tithonia diversifolia. After the establishment cut, simulated grazing with 10 animals was introduced at 4 growth stages of the Tithonia, defined according to the plant height, which was 50, 100, 150 and 200 cm. The dry matter percentage reached values between 16.8 and 24.6% for the first grazing and showed differences between treatments for the second and third rotation, with higher values (27.4 and 26.2%) when grazing started with 200 cm height. The number of stems damaged ranged between 3.1 and 4.1 at the beginning of grazing and later, the values were lower (1.07-2.16) differing between treatments for the second and third rotation. The animal behavior in grazing was different according to season, with numbers of animals lying, ruminating or resting, being increased in the rainy season with decreasing grazing time. It is concluded that the grazing of T. diversifolia should begin when the plant reaches between 100 and 150 cm of height, after the establishment cut.