The objectives of this study were to assess the in situ rumen degradation of dry matter (DM) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and the estimated DM intake of dwarf elephant grass genotypes in different cutting intervals. The incubation periods in the rumen environment were 0, 3, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, 72, 96 and 144 hours. A randomized block design was used with three replications (animals), two dwarf elephant grass genotypes (CNPGL 94-34-3 and CNPGL 92-198-7) and the cv. Mott, with cutting intervals of 14, 28, 42, 56, 70 and 84 days, in a split plot design. The parameters of DM and NDF degradation, and its potential and effective degradabilities did not vary greatly for cv. Mott and the CNPGL 94-34-3 and CNPGL 92-198-7 genotypes, but they decreased substantially with increased plant maturity for all the genotypes. Intake estimates generated by two equations are considered valid for these feeds.
cutting intervals; degradability; estimated intake; forage; rumen
