EFEITO DAS ÉPOCAS DE DIFERIMENTO NA PRODUÇÃO E COMPOSIÇÃO QUÍMICA DO CAPIM-ELEFANTE (Pennisetum purpureum SCHUM. Cv. Cameroon)

The effects of three closing out dates and four harvesting dates on the production and chemical composition of an elephant grass soilage area were studied. The experiment was carried out in the Departamento de Producao Animal at the UFG, in Goiânia-GO, during the year of 1990. It was used a completely randomized block design according to a factorial scheme 3x4 with four replications, three closing out dates and four harvesting dates. The closing out dates were: January, February and March and the sampling dates were: May, June, July and August. If the soilage is going to be utilized just at the beginning of the dry season, the soilage area has to be closed out in January or February. However, if the soilage is going to be utilized latter on the dry season, the soilage area should be closed out in March. In relation to the other factors studied, such as protein, the data obtained showed that the soilage as sampled is not sufficient to completely satisfy the animal demand for that nutrient. KEY-WORDS: Ca; P; crude fiber; crude protein; soilage.