Resumo

ARAQUE, César; ARRIETA, Guillermo; SANCHEZ, Alexander  e  SANDOVAL, Espartaco. Effect of regrowth age and growing rate of mataraton (Gliricidia sepium) on it’s bromatology and minerals. Zootecnia Trop. [online]. 2002, vol.20, n.2, pp.191-203. ISSN 0798-7269.

To determine the nutritional value and growth rate of mataraton (Gliricidia sepium) as feedstuff for dual purpose cattle, a trial was carried out in the area of Tres Islas, Garcia de Hevia county, Tachira state, Venezuela, characterized by a mean temperature of 26.9 °C, average annual rainfall 2,651 mm, at an altitude of 127 mase and the climate is classified as tropical humid forest type ( bh-T ). A total of 40 plants that were usep as a paddock living fence, were trimmed every 30 days at the trunk top level, where 3 compound samples were monthly taken random y for a year, to determine dry matter, lipid, ash and, protein content and some minerals. Before that, branches were measured from their tips to the base determine its growth rate. Results showed that, plant maturation level increased (P<0.05) the content of dry matter and lipids from 10.33 to 13.79%, and 1.88 to 4.12%, respectively. Meanwhile protein and ashes content decreased (P<0.05) from 26.52 to 21.60%, and 11.06 to 6.03%, respectively. Regarving to mineral content, P, K, Fe, and Zn decreased (P<0.05) from 0.49 to 0.15%, 3.20 to 0.91%, 263.60 to 152.00 ppm, and 59.30 to 31.04 ppm, respectively. Ca, Mg and Mn values increased from 0.19 to 1.39%, 0.20 to 0.40% and 16.3 to 62.0%, respectively. Finally, monthly growth rate showed a mean of 39.83 cm. These results showed that besides its high nutritional value, mataraton has a vigorous and fast growing pattern.

Palavras-chave : Mataraton; regrowth; nutritional value; growth rate; living fences.