The objective of this work was to estimate the dry matter production and the nutritive value of Brachiaria decumbens and Brachiaria brizantha pastures, deferred in February and March, and grazed during the dry season. The experimental design was a complete randomized block with treatments arranged in a split-plot. The Brachiaria species constituted the main plots, and the deferred months the subplots. The pastures deferred in February showed greater total dry matter (TDM) and blade leaves dry matter (BLDM) yields, when compared to those deferred in March, being in average, 4,530 e 3,160 kg ha-1 of TDM and 935 and 680 kg ha-1 of BLDM, respectively. Independently of the grass species and deferred months, decreases were observerd in the forage availability, in the percentages of crude protein (CP) and in the in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) throughout the dry season. The TDM yields were sufficient to sustain 3 AU ha-1, for the whole dry season. Independently of the deferred months, the CP and IVOMD contents of these pastures were limiting factors to animal production.
Brachiaria decumbens; Brachiaria brizantha; forage yield; morphological components; nutritive value; pasture management
