Annual cold season forage species, Avena strigosa Schreb cv. IAPAR-61 Ibiporã, Lolium multiflorum Lam cv. Comum, Lotus subbiflorus Lag cv. El Rincón, Avena sativa L. cv. UPF-16, Trifolium subterraneum L. cv. Woogenellup, Trifolium resupinatum L. var. resupinatum cv. Kyambro, Secale cereale L. cv. BR-1, Trifolium vesiculosum Savi cv. EMBRAPA-28 Santa Tecla and Vicia angustifolia L. were evaluated using a randomized block design with three replicates, from 1994 to 1996, at Terras Baixas Experimental Station, EMBRAPA - Temperate Climate Research Center, Pelotas, RS, Brazil, in Planosol, Pelotas chart unity. The area was conventionally prepared, and the fertilization was in accordance with the soil analysis results. The first cutting was made 60 days after the emergence, and the following cuts were at 28 days intervals. The annual forage DM yield (DM, kg/ha•year) and the average CP and NDF contents were determined. There was effect of the interaction between years and species. Avena strigosa IAPAR-61, L. multiflorum Comum and L. subbiflorus El Rincón were outstanding by the high forage production potential, as well as by their growth over autumn/winter, winter/spring and spring, respectively. All the evaluated species produced forage of high nutritional value, in terms of CP and NDF contents. Vicia angustifolia had always the highest CP content and the greatest relative production over the winter. Trifolium subterraneum Woogenellup was an only species that produced sufficient reliable seeds to assure an adequate natural regeneration of the plant in the beginning of the second year.
seasonal distribution; neutral detergent fiber; cool season forage species; dry matter; crude protein
