Resumen

GARCIA, Danny E  y  MEDINA, Maria G. Chemical composition, secondary metabolites, nutritive value and relative acceptability of ten fodder trees. Zootecnia Trop. [online]. 2006, vol.24, n.3, pp.233-250. ISSN 0798-7269.

In order to determinate the chemical composition, secondary metabolites level, nutritive value and acceptability of ten fodder legumes (Albizia caribaea, Albizia lebbeck, Cassia  fistula, Cassia grandis, Pithecellobium dulce, Pithecellobium saman, Gliricidia sepium, Leucaena macrophylla, Lysiloma latisiliquum y Enterolobium contortisilicum), an experiment was carried out using a total randomize arrangement with five replications in Trujillo state, Venezuela. Significant difference were observed regarding bromatological composition (P<0,05). C. grandis (5,61%) and L. latisiliquum (5,70%) showed the highest total polyphenols level, L. latisiliquum important concentrations of total tannins, condensed tannins and hydrolysable tannins (5,32; 5,25 y 0,65%, respectively) and C. grandis the biggest level of precipitant protein tannins (3,64%). A. caribaea (3,50%) and P. saman (3,85%) showed considerable quantities of saponins and A. lebbeck superior alkaloids level (0,51%). The highest DM degradation corresponded to A. lebbeck (84,1%) and G. sepium (84,0%). G. sepium showed high protein degradation rate; while P. dulce presented important postruminal nitrogen degradation (66,7%). Species with biggest concentration of polyphenolic compounds and saponins were moderately our not browsed for sheep. The foliages of all studied legumes showed acceptable nutritive quality. However, in general, A. lebbeck, P. dulce, G. sepium y E. contortisilicum showed the best potentiality as supplementary feeding for ruminant.

Palabras clave : Phytochemistry; toxics; legumes; fodder species.