ISSN: 2320-5407 Int. J. Adv. Res. 6(3), 1031-1038 1031 Journal Homepage: -www.journalijar.com Article DOI:10.21474/IJAR01/6762 DOI URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.21474/IJAR01/6762 RESEARCH ARTICLE YIELD AND FORAGE QUALITY OF ELEPHANT GRASS IN RESPONSE TO CUTTING INTERVALS. Adriani Darmawati and Endang Dwi Purbajanti. Faculty of Animal and Agricultural Sciences, Diponegoro University, Semarang, Indonesia. …………………………………………………………………………………………………….... Manuscript Info Abstract ……………………. ……………………………………………………………… Manuscript History Received: 16 January 2018 Final Accepted: 18 February 2018 Published: March 2018 Keywords:- Elephant Grass, Year, Tiller Number, Crude Protein, Crude Fiber The aim of the study was to identify the shorter cutting intervals in relation to the production and quality of forage. Treatments consisted of two forages cutting frequencies: 12 and 8 cutting frequencies per year _1 (4 week cutting interval and 6 weeks cutting interval), at regularly spaced intervals. All treatments were replicated five times and arranged in a factorial design based on randomized complete block design. The parameters observed were tiller number, crop growth rate(CGR), biomass yields, forage production, dry matter yield (DMY), dry matter(DM) content, crude protein and crude fiber. The study showed that the tiller number at the CI 4 weeks was higher than CI 6 weeks. The CGR at 4 weekcutting interval (43.67%) was higher (p<0.05) than 6 week cutting interval. The highest result of biomass yields per plot (198.96 kg) was gained at cutting interval 4 weeks in the second year which was significantly different in all treatments. The crude protein rate at 4 week cutting interval was higher (13.8%) than the protein level at 6 week cutting interval. The crude fiber content at 4 week cutting interval (28.6%) was lower than at 6 week cutting interval (34.6%). Finally the research also showed that the 4 week cutting interval provided better nutritional quality, as reflected in the increasing levels of CP and the decreasing CF, with a steady DM. Copy Right, IJAR, 2018,. All rights reserved. …………………………………………………………………………………………………….... Introduction:- Livestock production is one of the most important activities in Indonesia, and grasslands are the main feed source for Indonesian cattle herds. This results in lower production costs than that in intensive or semi-intensive systems, where animals are restricted and are fed with grains. In Indonesia, for example in Central Java, livestock production today almost exclusively requires elephant grass. Elephant grass is a source of feed for most ruminants and is found out to be one of the most preferred types of grass favored by livestock. However, its production varies in the rainy season and in the dry season (the seasonal variation in Indonesia is indicated by the difference in rainfall mean, for example, in the months Schmidt and Ferguson called ‘dry months’ the rainfall mean is less than 60mm, while in the wet months called wet months, it is over 100 mm). This is a problem since to get sustainable livestock production, the constant availability of qualified feed and forage resources are badly needed. Corresponding Author:- Adriani Darmawati. Address:- Faculty of Animal and Agricultural Sciences, Diponegoro University, Semarang, Indonesia.