Abstract

GARCIA, D.E et al. Characterization of the nutritional quality of 53 accessions from the Leucaena genus under tropical conditions. Pastos y Forrajes [online]. 2009, vol.32, n.1, pp.1-1. ISSN 0864-0394.

Through the descriptive analysis, main component analysis and automatic classification, a trial was conducted to characterize the nutritional composition of the foliage of 53 accessions from the Leucaena genus (37 L. leucocephala, 7 L. macrophylla, 5 L. lanceolata, 2 L. diversifolia, 1 L. glauca and 1 L. esculenta) established in Matanzas, Cuba. The chemical composition, levels of secondary metabolites and ruminal degradability were determined. In general, the accessions showed excellent chemical composition to be used as supplement in ruminant feeding (CP: 25,71 ±3,94%; NDF: 46,91±2,09; Ash: 7,48 ± 0,96%; DMD: 60,24 ± 9,90%). The indicators that better accounted for the variations between accessions were the components of the fibrous and polyphenolic fraction, mimosine concentration and ruminal degradability. However, protein fraction, dry matter and phytate rates, minerals and ash showed little fluctuation. By means of the ACA three groups were identified with differentiated nutritional characteristics among themselves. The accessions of L. macrophylla, L. diversifolia and L. esculenta showed higher concentration of secondary metabolites and lower ruminal degradability than the ones belonging to L. leucocephala, L. lanceolata and L. glauca, which showed the best results. DM, CP and NDF degradation was affected by fiber, total polyphenol, precipitable tannin and condensed tannin contents.

Keywords : Quality; metabolites; Leucaena.

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