The importance of grasses and legumes as sources of feed for ruminants in the tropics is discussed. Grasses such as Signal grass, Coast Cross I, Star grass, Bambatsi, Guinea grass, Chrysopogon, and the legumes Desmanthus virgatus, Desmodium distortum, Macroptilium atropurpureum, Stylosanthes hamata and Centrosema macrocarpum have proved promising in the Caribbean and their potential is discussed.