EFFECTS OF PASTURE STOCKPILING TIMES ON F ORAGE YIELD AND CHEMICAL-COMPOSITION OF ELEPHANT-GRASS CV MOTT

An experiment was conducted in Porto Velho, Rondonia, with the purpose of determining the best time for pasture recuperation and of consumpt ion of the accumulated forage of elephant-grass (Pennisetum purpureum cv. Mott) for herd supplementation in the dry season. The experimental design was in randomized complete blocks (split-plot) with three repl icates. The periods of stockpiling began on February 28, March 28 and April 28 and constituted the main plots; and the consumption months (J une 30, July 30, August 30 and September 30), the subplots. The data i ndicate the feasibility of stockpiling of the grass during the rainy s eason, to provide forage for herd supplementation in the dry season. T he highest dry matter (DM) yields were obtained with the pasture stock piled in February or March and consumption in August or September. The grass, irrespective of stockpiling periods, showed significative redu ctions (P < 0.05) in crude protein contents and in vitro DM digestibil ity toward the later consumption time. In order to obtain greater fora ge yields with better quality, it is suggested that stockpiling begin in March for forage consumption in June or July, and in April for fora ge consumption in August or September.