In this study, we evaluate the effects of intercropping pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.) with tropical pastures for feeding Nellore cattle and compared animal performance and enteric CH₄ emissions with other pasture-based systems during the dry and rainy seasons of 2021. Thirty-six Nellore steers (with a body weight of 221 ± 7 kg and an age of 15–16 months) were randomly distributed in three treatments with three replicates (in paddocks of 1.5 hectares each): (1) a degraded pasture of Urochloa spp. (DEG); (2) a recovered and fertilized pasture of Urochloa spp. (REC); and (3) pigeon pea intercropped with Urochloa spp. (MIX). Enteric CH₄ emissions were estimated using the sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆) tracer gas technique, and dry matter intake (DMI) was determined using internal (iNDF) and external (TiO₂) markers. Forages were collected by hand plucking after observations of ingestive behavior, and feces was collected after voluntary defecation. The proportion of grass and legume intake was estimated by C stable isotopes, and the forage nutritional quality was determined, while animal performance was monitored monthly, and the stocking rate was adjusted by the “put and take” technique. The results indicated that intercropping pigeon pea with tropical grasses is an interesting strategy for sustainable livestock production based on pastures. The MIX treatment was able to meet the nutritional requirements of the animals, which presented higher performance. In addition, there was a reduction in CH₄ emissions up to 70% when expressed per average daily weight gain in comparison to the DEG treatment.

Tropical pastures intercropped with legumes have been gaining prominence for increasing the efficiency of livestock production systems when compared to pasture monocultures. Here, our objective was to understand the fermentation processes that tropical grass and legumes underwent when included in ruminant diets, which have previously been found to optimize animal performance while reducing the intensity of enteric CH₄ emissions. For this purpose, three areas containing pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) and Urochloa spp. were sampled. Samples were dried, grounded, chemically analyzed, and included in five proportions (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%) of pigeon pea in the diet. The diets were then analyzed using an in vitro fermentation technique. Statistical analysis was performed using SAS statistical software, considering bottles as replicates, and our results suggest that a 25% inclusion of pigeon pea is optimal for balancing CH₄ mitigation and fermentation efficiency, highlighting the importance of more studies with this legume due to its benefits, especially as a supplement during drought periods that impact the production and quality of tropical pastures. It is important to consider that pigeon pea’s secondary compounds may have positively modulated the fermentation process and reduced CH₄ emissions. However, excessive legume inclusion can negatively affect digestibility and animal health, impairing animal performance and the sustainability of pasture-based production systems.

Silages produced from different forage species exhibit substantial variability in chemical composition, digestibility, and fermentation characteristics, which may influence forage quality and preservation efficiency in livestock systems. This study evaluated the nutritional and fermentative variability of silages produced from six forage species (Zea mays L., Sorghum bicolor L., Medicago sativa L., Helianthus annuus L., Cenchrus purpureus, and Saccharum officinarum L.) using multivariate analytical approaches. A database comprising 237 observations, obtained from 24 independent ensiling experiments, was analyzed. Chemical composition, fermentative parameters, and in vitro dry matter digestibility were evaluated through principal component analysis (PCA), canonical discriminant analysis (CDA), and Pearson correlation analysis. Significant differences among forage species were detected (p < 0.05). PCA explained 76.2% of the total variance in the chemical dataset and 85.1% in the fermentative dataset, revealing clear multivariate patterns among silage types. Chemical composition traits provided greater discrimination among silages than fermentative variables, particularly through differences in fiber fractions, soluble carbohydrates, digestibility, and buffering capacity. Corn and sorghum silages were associated with greater starch availability and favorable fermentation profiles, whereas elephant grass and sugarcane exhibited higher fiber concentrations. Alfalfa showed greater crude protein concentration and digestibility, while sunflower was characterized by elevated lignin concentration. Overall, multivariate analyses provided an integrated interpretation of nutritional and fermentative relationships among silages, highlighting species-specific responses to ensiling and their implications for forage conservation and livestock production systems.