Several soybean cultivars commonly grown in Rio Grande do Sul, for grain production were evaluated for hay yield and quality. The experiment was conducted at the Animal Production Department, UFSM on a podzolic yellow-red soil of medium texture. Twelve cultivars: IAS-5, BR-2, BR-4, Paraná, Planalto, IAS-4, CEP-12, Bragg, Bossier, Santa Rosa, BR-1, Cobb, were distribuited into a randomized block design with four replicates. Each cultivar was cut at beans beginning to develop, field dryed up to wilking and barn dried afterwards crude protein (CP) and in vitro digestibility (IVDMO) of organic matter were analysed and dry matter yield (DM yield) was estimated. There were not significant differences between 7446Kg.ha-1 and 9931 kg. ha-1 for the Bragg and CEP-12 cultivars respectively. IVDMO varied between 52,2% and 62,3% for the same cultivars respectively, There were significant differences in CP% between cultivars varying between 12,6% for cultivar BR-1 and 16,67% for Braggs.
Glycine max (L.) Merril; hay; digestability; crude protein
