Nutritional characterization and ruminal degradation kinetcs of some forages with potential for ruminants supplementation in the highland tropics of Colombia

摘要

The aim of this study was to characterize the nutritional quality of nine forage resources: Comfrey (Symphytum peregrinum), White Mulberry (Morus alba), Sleeping Hibiscus (Malvaviscus penduliflorus), Nacedero (Trichanthera gigantea), tree marigold (Tithonia diversifolia Hemsl) Gray, Ramie (Boehmeria niveah.) Gaud, Arboloco (Montanoa quadrangularis Bipontinus Schultz), Chachafruto (Erythrina edulis Triana ex Michelle) and Andean Alder (Alnus acuminata Kunth), with potential for inclusion in strategic supplementation programs in the highland tropics of Colombia. The forages that showed the highest levéis of PC were Comfrey (28,42%), Chachafruto (26,52%), Arboloco (26,35%) and those that showed the lowest were the Sleeping Hibiscus (15,92%) and Andean Alder (16,88%). The lowest NDF contents were presented by White Mulberry (33,55%) and Andean Alder (35,79%) while the highest were observed for Chachafruto (49,64%) and Ramie (48,54%). The nutrient content of forages evaluated can be included in supplementation programs, due to they can enhance the energy density of the diet and may increase dry matter intake.