Potential of grasses of the genus Digitaria for animal production in the Southeastern Region of Brazil

Abstract

Since 1950, several forage grasses of the genus Digitaria were introduced in the Southeastern Region of Brazil, some presenting good characteristics for livestock production, especially dairy, such as pangola (D. decumbens cv. pangola), A-24 (D. penuff), transvala (D. decumbens cv. transvala), swazi (D. swazilandensis), survenola (Digitaria X unfolozi) and pentziana (D. milanjiana x D. pentzii), the last two, hybrids, produced by University of Florida. Pangola had a great importance in the Region, covering large arcas of pastures. However, its utilization had a strong drop, caused by R.bodes-grass-scale attack, the same thing happening, with higher intensity, to A-24. Transvala, introduced later, presented superior characteristics, as well as swazi, which has the advantage of higher competitiveness with weeds and higher resistance to trampling. These two grasses have digestibility (OMIVD) around 64%. From the two hybrids recently introduced, survenola is the one in a more advanced stage: of tests and it has shown forage production (1). M.) 15% superior to transvala and swazi, and OMIVD higher in 4%. Pentziana, with MOIVI) equal to survenola, has a production a little lower. These two hybrids are now being tested under grazing. Grasses of genus Digitaria present qualities which recommend them as pastures plants for the Southeastern Region of Brazil. They are especially recommended for intensive dairy and beef production based on pastures.