PRELIMINAR EVALUATION OF THE AERIAL PART OF PEANUT CROP FOR ANIMAL FEEDING

Fourteen peanut (Arachis hypogaea) cultivars were evaluated as to aeri al part quality and production, for utilization in animal feeding. The aerial part dry matter production did not vary between cultivars. A m ean of 3,244 kg was obtained per hectare. The aerial part:grain relati on varied between cultivars, although this fact was due to the grain y ield variation. The crude protein levels were different between cultiv ars, with the materials Ticao, Tatu, Tatui, HP1 3mM, S3 3mM, Crioulo ( Xavantina), Crioulo (Modelo) and S1 3mM presenting mean value levels h igher than 13.3%. The organic matter in vitro digestibility was affect ed by the cultivars, and the materials Ticao, Tatui e Crioulo (Mondai 1) presented levels 2.4 units higher than the 62.8% mean value.