Dry matter (DM) yield increases as plants age, but at the same time there is a decrease in forage quality. Management studies on oat cultivars were performed to determine which indicators for the first cutting time and regrowth intervals would lead to the highest dry matter yield with the highest nutritive value. In 1994, a randomized complete block experimental design, with three replications was used, in a 3 x 4 factorial arrangement (the three first cut indicators were: sixty days after emergence, beginning of panicle differentiation (PD), and 10% of plants with culm elongation and apical meristem elevation (SE), while the four regrowth cutting intervals were: 28 days, 56 days, PD and 10% SE. Two oat forage cultivars were used, São Carlos and UPF 3. In 1995 and 1996, a 4 x 3 factorial arrangement (four regrowth intervals: 28, 35, 42 and 56 days and three cultivars, São Carlos, UPF 3 and IAPAR 61) also in a randomized block design with three replications. Forage DM yield, crude protein, Ca, P, Mg content, 'in vitro' DM digestibility and neutral detergent fiber were determined. There were statistical differences for DM yield and nutritive characteristics among cultivars, first cutting time and regrowth cutting interval. The first cut should be performed with 10% SE and regrowth cuttings should be performed using an interval of 28 to 35 days.
Avena sativa; A. byzantina; A. strigosa; animal feeding; bromatological determinations
