This work was carriedout to evaluate the productive potencial and chemical composition of five grasses(Pennisetum purpureum Schum. cv. Pioneiro, P. purpureum Schumcv. Mott; Panicum maximum Jacq. cv. Mombaça, P. maximumJacq cv. Tanzânia, e Brachiaria brizantha (Hochst) Stapf. cv. Marandu).The cuts were performed at 35 days of intervals and 40 cm above ground. Pioneiroshowed higher DM yield (7.35 t DM/ha/35 days) when compared to the Dwarf Elephantgrass(5.28 t DM/ha/35 days) and Tanzânia grass (5.23 t DM/ha/35 days), beingsimilar to the others. Brachiaria brizantha presented the highest totaltillering (538.72/m²) however the aerial tiller weight was the lowest forthis species. The cultivars of P. purpureum showed higher aerial tilleringand lower basal tillering, when compared to the cultivars of P. maximum.The CP concentration ranged from 6.96 to 10.20% and the cultivar Pioneiro presentedthe highest value. No difference was found among the forages for NDF and ADF,and the mean values were 73.83 and 39.20%, respectively. At the evaluated cutinterval, the forages presented a high proportion of leaves (> 80%), showingpotential to be used on livestock pasture-based operations in the Forest Zoneof Pernambuco.
