This trial was conducted with the objective of evaluating the nutritive value of three tropical forage species: tanzania grass (Panicum maximum Jacq.), marandu grass (Brachiaria brizantha) and Tifton 85 bermudagrass (Cynodon spp) in two different periods of the year (January-March and April-June) and in three cutting ages (28, 35 and 42 days), based on the chemical composition, protein and carbohydrate fractions, and in vitro digestibility of dry matter (DMD) and organic matter (OMD). Marandu grass, in the period January-March, had the lowest cellular wall contents and B2 fraction of carbohydrates, and higher values of crude protein, A + B1 fraction, DMD and OMD in comparison to tanzania grass and Tifton 85 bermudagrass, regardless of the cutting age. The increase of concentration of the cell wall in detriment to the cell content as plant maturity advanced was evident in marandu grass during January-March when higher values of B2 fraction, higher content of neutral detergent fiber and lower concentrations of non fibrous carbohydrate fractions were observed. In April-June period, the cellular wall contents did not show evident differences as age increased due to environmental conditions. The tanzania grass presents, in general, lower values of the cell wall and higher values of non fibrous carbohydrate, DMD and OMD during this period, followed by marandu grass and Tifton 85 bermudagrass, respectively.
cell content; cell wall; marandu grass; nutritive value; tanzania grass; tifton 85 bermudagrass
