INFLUENCE OF CUTTING AGE ON THE NUTRITIONAL QUALITY AND PRODUCTIVITY OF BRS CAPIAÇU IN A FAMILY FARMING SYSTEM - JAPERI/RJ

Abstract

The sustainability of livestock farming in family farming systems is directly associated with the adoption of forage crops with high nutritional value and adapted to regional edaphoclimatic conditions. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different cutting ages (60, 90, and 120 days) on the productive and bromatological parameters of BRS Capiaçu grass (Pennisetum purpureum) intended for feeding dairy cattle in Japeri-RJ. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design, with three replications per treatment. Plant height, number of tillers, and green matter production were evaluated, in addition to the bromatological composition (CP, NDF, ADF, and lignin). Statistical analyses were performed using R software and the tukey teste (p<0.05). Cutting at 60 days resulted in higher crude protein content (12.8%) and lower NDF (62.4%), while cutting at 120 days provided higher dry matter productivity (45.2 t/ha/year) and reduced quality (CP = 7.9%; NDF = 73.1%). All parameters were significantly influenced by cutting age, confirming the hypothesis of a trade-off between productivity and nutritional value. The results highlight the importance of strategic management of BRS Capiaçu to optimize the sustainability of family dairy systems, in line with SDG 2.