This work was aimed to compare the production and animal selectivity of elephant grass cultivars in the cold conditions, of Southern Brasil (Lages, Santa Catarina). Twelve cultivars of elephantgrass were used (Mineiro X-23A, Mineiro, Taiwan A-144, CAC-262, Mole da Volta Grande, Teresópolis, Vrukwona, Merckeron Pinda, Turrialba, Porto Rico, Taiwan A-148 and Cameroon), established on 17.5 m² plots in a randomized block design, with three replicates. Each plot consisted of seven lines with 0,50 m interval, using the tree central lines for measurements. These measurements were made on January, March and May of 1985 and 1986, each time the plants height reached 1.5 m. The animal selectivity was done on January and March of 1987, giving scores to the forage after grazing the plots (Botanal method). There was a significant effect of years and cultivars on total forage yield, but the interaction was not significant. On the average, the yield potential ranged from 11 to 21 t DM/ha. There was a 27% reduction on forage yield on the second year (12,116 kg DM/ha of average), compared with the first year (16,662 kg DM/ha). The cultivar Mineiro X-23A presented the highest forage yield and the cultivar Porto Rico showed the highest proportion of leaves and animal selectivity and the cultivar CAC-262 the highest stability, presenting a smaller variance on the two years of evaluations.
adaptation; persistence; selectivity
