The experiment was carried out to evaluate the herbage production of cool season forage species and cultivars from Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuária- INIA/Uruguay breeding program. The following species and cultivars were evaluated: Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.): Cetus, Estanzuela 284 and Titan; Oats (Avena byzantina): RLE 115a and 1095a; White clover (Trifolium repens L.): Estanzuela Zapicán; Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.): Estanzuela 116 and Birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) São Gabriel. Dry matter production, structural components percentage and production, canopy height, neutral detergent fiber, and crude protein percentages were determined. It was used a split-plot arrangement in a randomized block design, where the subplots were the evaluation dates, with four replications. Among the grasses, Italian ryegrass Titan presented the greatest herbage production of DM, with 7.2 t/ha and higher leaf proportion. The production of Birdsfoot trefoil and Red clover were similar and had greater DM production than White clover. The tested species and cultivars were adapted to the local conditions, even with rainfall deficit occurrence during the experimental period.
Avena byzantina; Lotus corniculatus L.; Lolium multiflorum Lam; Trifolium pratense L.; Trifolium repens L.
