ABSTRACT - The objective of the experiment was to evaluate the dynamics, forage yield and quality of the mixtures of oat + ryegrass (MOR), triticale + ryegrass (MTR), rye + ryegrass (MRR) in continuous grazing. Beef heifers with seven months of age and initial 140 kg LW were used. The sowing was broadcast at 04/12/96, using 85 kg/ha of oat, 170 kg/ha of triticale, 140 kg/ha of rye and 30 kg/ha of ryegrass, in the respective mixtures. The area was fertilized with 200 kg/ha of 05-20-20 and the nitrogen fertilization was of 220 kg/ha of nitrogen. The grazing period was from 05/21/96 to 11/19/96 in MOR and MRR and from 06/04/96 to 11/19/96 in MTR. There were interaction between treatment and grazing period for in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) and percentage of dry matter (DM) in the residue. The accumulation rate and total yield of DM did not differ among the mixtures, presenting a yield of 9,715, 9,752 and 9,770 kg/ha, respectively. The mixture MRR presented higher yield of DM just after the establishment and the MOR at the initial grazing periods, while the MTR presented better distribution of the forage yield during the grazing period. There was higher initial contribution of rye in the residue, followed by oat and triticale.
botanical component; grasses; grazing; yield potential
