Caatinga is a protected cultivar of Matsuda. It has been selected for many years among a large collection of buffel grass in Matsuda’s gene bank. Caatinga does well in areas with lower rainfall (500 mm per year) and with medium to high soil fertility. It has a good tolerance to salinity and gives good quality forage for grazing or hay making. It has a higher protein production per hectare than Cenchrus setigerus cv. Agreste.