ABSTRACT. This study investigated whether genotype influences the establishment of Pennisetum purpureum Schumach. The experimental design was a randomized complete blocks with four treatments and eight replications (n=8). The treatments were four genotypes of P. purpureum, two classified as tall sizes: P. purpureum cv. Elephant B and cv. IRI 381; and two as dwarf types: P. purpureum cv. Mott and Taiwan A-146 2.37. They were planted in a tropical wet and dry region of Brazil. Tall genotypes showed superior field sprouting rates (p < 0.05), ranging between 95-99%, while dwarfs varied between 88-90%, however, Elephant B and IRI 381 produced a much lower average number of tillers (31 and 32 linear m-1, respectively), than Taiwan A-146 2.37 and Mott (56 and 41 linear m-1, respectively) (p < 0.05). Dwarf genotypes produced lower biomass yields (p < 0.05), but this was genotype-dependent and did not impact on their establishment. The levels of non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) (>10%) in the planted stems were associated with satisfactory field sprouting of the elephantgrass genotypes. Despite some variations between the genotypes in terms of sprouting, tillering, and growth rates, the kind of genotype had no major significance on the establishment of the elephantgrass.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar dietas a base de palma forrageira (aproximadamente 54 %) associada a diferentes fontes de fibra sobre o consumo, digestibilidade, comportamento alimentar e balanço de nitrogênio de cinco ovinos machos, com peso inicial entre 34kg. As fontes de fibra avaliadas foram: feno de tifton, casca de soja, caroço de algodão, feno de tifton + casca de soja e feno de tifton + caroço de algodão. Utilizou-se o delineamento quadrado latino 5x5. Não houve diferença para o consumo de matéria seca, matéria orgânica, proteína bruta, fibra em detergente neutro e nutrientes digestíveis totais. A palma associada ao caroço de algodão apresentou maior coeficiente de digestibilidade de extrato etéreo. Os coeficientes de digestibilidade da matéria seca e fibra em detergente neutro do tratamento com casca de soja foram superiores ao feno de tifton + caroço de algodão.O tratamentofeno de tiftonefeno de tifton+casca de sojaapresentaram maiordigestibilidade da proteína brutaem relação aocaroço dealgodão.O tratamento com palma associada à casca de soja apresentou média de excreção de nitrogênio nas fezes superior aos demais. O maior valor de excreção de nitrogênio na urina correspondeu ao tratamento feno de tifton + o caroço de algodão. A palma associada à casca de soja proporcionou menor tempo em ruminação e mastigação total. É recomendado o uso da palma forrageira associada com feno de capim tifton e casca de soja como fontes de fibra na alimentação de ovinos.

The objective of this work was to evaluate diets of spinelles cactus (54 % about) associated with different fiber sources on intake, digestibility, feeding behavior, and nitrogen balance of five male sheep, with average initialweightof 34kg. The fiber sources evaluated were: Tifton hay,soybean hulls, cottonseedandmixturestifton haywith soybean hullsandtifton haywith cottonseed.The experimental design used was a5x5Latin Square. There was no differencesfordry matter intake,organic matter, crude protein,neutral detergent fiberand total digestible nutrients. The spineless cactus associated with cottonseed promotedone greater digestibility to ether extract. The soybean hulls afforded coefficients of digestibility of dry matter and neutral detergent fiber higher than to Tifton + cottonseed. The treatment tifton hay and tifton hay + soybean hulls showedgreaterdigestibility ofcrude protein compared to cottonseed. The treatment with spineless cactuswith soybean hulls showed higher mean of nitrogen excretion of feces than the others. Higher value of nitrogen excretion in the urine was from tifton hay + cottonseed.The spineless cactuswithsoybean hullsresultedinlessrumination timeandtotalchewing. It is recommended the use spinelles cactus associated with tifton hay and soybean hulls as fiber sources in the sheep diets.