Ruminal degradabilities of dry matter and crude protein of tropical forages

Foram determinadas as degradabilidades in situ da MS e PB dos folíolos de três leguminosas tropicais leucena (Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit), guandu (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.) e soja perene (Neonotonia wightii) e de folhas de outras duas forrageiras tropicais rami (Boehmeria nivea (L.) Gaudich) e mandioca (Manihot esculenta Crantz). Amostras de 3 g (guandu, soja e rami) ou 5 g (leucena e mandioca) do material foram incubadas no rúmen de quatro novilhos por períodos de 3, 6, 12, 18, 24 e 48 horas. As degradabilidades efetivas da MS e da PB para a taxa de passagem de 5% hora foram elevadas (acima de 60%). As taxas de degradação, exceto a do guandu, também foram consideradas elevadas. As forrageiras apresentaram alta digestibilidade total da proteína (acima de 88%), exceto os folíolos de guandu (69%). O guandu foi a forrageira com menor potencial de degradação da proteína. In situ DM and CP degradabilities of leaflets of three tropical legumes: leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit), pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.), and glycine (Neonotonia wightii) and of leaves of two other tropical forages: ramie (Boehmeria nivea (L.) Gaudich) and cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) were determined in this trial. Three grams of pigeon pea, glycine, and ramie and 5 g of leucaena and cassava were incubated in the rumen of four steers for 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, and 48 hours. Effective degradabilities of DM and CP assuming a passage rate of 5%/hour were greater than 60%. Degradation rates, except for pigeon pea, were also high in this study. Forages had high total digestibility of protein (greater than 88%), except for pigeon pea leaflets that was 69%. Pigeon pea was the forage with the lowest potential for ruminal protein degradation.