This study was carried out to evaluate 14 genotypes of six winter species for yield and nutritive value of early forage and silage or regrowth grain. The experiment was in a randomized complete block design with three replications, so that the plots consisted of seven 5.0 m-long rows spaced at 0.2 m. The seeding date was April in the three study years and fertilization followed the recommendations for the crops. During the tillering period and after cutting, urea was applied at the rate of 22.5 kg N/ha. Each plot was cut at a height of 7.0 cm from the soil to estimate the forage yield per genotype, when plants reached 30 cm height. Half the regrowth of each plot was used for silage and half for grain. Harvesting for silage was at the dough stage, from 30 to 35% DM. Nutritive value analyses were made using the near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) technique. Rye BRS Serrano was superior for green forage, silage, and total forage yield (green forage + silage) and regrowth grain yield. However, for grain yield, BRS Serrano rye was similar to BRS 277 wheat, BRS 148 and BRS 203 triticales, UPF 18 oats, and BR 1 rye. It is possible to obtain early forage using genotypes of rye, wheat, barley, and triticale, producing equivalent forage yields to those obtained with black oats pasture. Embrapa 53 triticale and UPF 18 oats yielded more digestible green forage, but the silages had digestibility similar to barley silage.
digestibility; NDF; oats; rye; triticale; wheat
