Selection of interspecific Brachiaria hybrids to intensify milk production on pastures.

• Main Author: PEREIRA, A. V.
• Publication Date: 2005
• Other Authors: SOUZA SOBRINHO, F. de, VALLE, C. B. do, LEDO, F. J. da S., BOTREL, M. de A., OLIVEIRA, J. da S. e, XAVIER, D. F.
• Format: Article
• Language: eng
• Source: Repositório Institucional da EMBRAPA (Repository Open Access to Scientific Information from EMBRAPA - Alice)
• Download full: http://www.alice.cnptia.embrapa.br/alice/handle/doc/594880
• topic: Pasto; Brachiaria Decumbens; Semente; Forragem; Qualidade

Milk production in Brazil is largely based on pasture utilization which represents an in expensive feed compared to processed or conserved forages. Brachiaria brizantha and B. decumbens are prevalent in Brazil owing to their high yield potential and good adaptation to acid and infertile soils. Their forage quality is, however, considered low in view of the nutritional needs of animals of high genetic potential for milk production. Fortunately, there is intra and interspecific variation for forage quality in Brachiaria germplasm to be exploited in the development of new cultivars. This paper reports on the evaluation of 47 interspecific hybrids between B. ruziziensis (R) × B. brizantha (B) and R × B. decumbens (D), with the objective of selecting potential new cultivars that combine high yield and forage quality. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design with two replicates and two common cultivars as controls. Data of the total dry matter yield, dry matter percentage, plant height and regrowth vigour of six cuts were collected. Samples from the third cut were analysed for nutritive value using near infrared spectroscopy. Results confirmed the existence of variability for the majority of the traits analysed so high quality and productive hybrids can be selected.