Gonzalvo et al., 2001. Livest. Res. Rural Dev., 13 (2)

The chemical composition and in vitro digestibility (IVND) by pepsin and pancreatin of 13 feed resources found in Venezuela were investigated. The resources were grouped as: protein sources ( Phaseolus calcaratus Roxb; Earthworm meal, Eisenia foetida and Soyabean meal, Soja maxima L.), tree resources (Leucaena, Leucaena leucocephala; Mulberry, Morus alba and Trichanthera gigantea) and agro-industrial byproducts (rejects from sesame, Sesamun indicum L.; rice polishings, Oryza sativa; sweet potato foliage, Ipomoea batatas; sugarcane leaves, Saccharum officinarum; forage groundnut, Arachis pintoi; wheat bran, Triticum vulgare) and meal made from dried rabbit intestines. Levels of N ranged from 6.30% ( Phaseolus calcaratus) to 8.43% (soyabean meal). IVND values were 96.1% (soya), 88.7% (earthworm meal) and 89.7% ( Phaseolus calcaratus ). Tree sources had N levels between 4.20% (leucaena) and 3.12% ( Trichanthera gigantea) and IVND of 66.0% (leucaena) and 30.1% ( Trichanthera gigantea). Agro-industrial products had 1.15% N (sugar cane leaves) and 3.87% (wheat bran) and IVND of 79.4% (rabbit intestine meal and wheat bran) and 33.9% (sweet potato foliage). The levels of NDF were poorly related to IVND values (-0.38).