Chemical composition and dry matter in situ degradability of arboreal legumes from Brazilian Semi-Arid region

Abstract

To offer alternatives for the climatic instability of the Brazilian semi-arid an experiment was accomplished to evaluate the bromatologic composition and the dry matter in situ degradability of arboreal legumes from brazilian semi-arid. The appraised legumes were Muquem (Albizia polyantha), Tamboril (Enterolobium contortisiliquum) and Leucena (Leucaena leucocephala). Samples were collected at three forests of the municipal district of Bom Jesus da Lapa, in the Bahia state, a sample composed in each forest. There were determined the dry matter content, crude protein, detergent neutral fiber, acid detergent fiber, hemicelulose, organic matter, mineral matter and dry matter in situ degradability. The studied legumes presented 45% around of dry matter. The crude protein content of the Muquem legume and Leucena in spite of the statistical difference were very close (17.00%). there was difference for the quality of the fibers with the smallest detergent neutral fiber value observed for the Leucena, following by the Muquem and Tamboril. The Leucena, during the whole incubation period, presented larger digestibilidade ruminal following by the Muquem and of the Tamboril. We can conclude that in spite of the superiority of the Leucena the leguminosa Tamboril and Muquem can be alternative for the feeding of the flock in the ecosystem of Catinga.