Dehydration and chemical composition of Leucena (“Leucena leucocephala”) and Gliricidia (“Gliricidia sepium”)

SUMMARY The objective was to evaluate the chemical composition and time to reach the point of hay of Leucena (Leucena leucocephala) and Gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium). Samples were collected in time 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16 hours of drying to obtain dehydration curve for each species of forage. The design was completely randomized with nine treatments (9 times of dehydration x three replicates). Data for morphological characteristics of the species were subjected to statistical analysis of variance, and means were compared by Tukey test at 1% probability. For dehydration curve as a function of time, the data were subjected to regression analysis. The leaf:stem ratio was higher for Gliricidia in time and 16 hours of dehydration (P <0.05). The rates dehydration of Composed samples of pod, stem and leaf of Gliricidia and Leucena showed a linear increase (P <0.05) and the Leucena dehydration was most efficient. The dry matter content of Gliricidia and Leucena showed, respectively, 91.24% and 91.32% content, while the crude protein content was 18.64% and 17.7%. The fiber content neutral detergent corrected for ash and protein content was the 49.86% and 49.07, the neutral detergent insoluble protein content was 1.01% and 1.77%. The time to reach the point of Leucena and Gliricidia hay was 16 hours. The nutritional composition of hay Leucena and Gliricidia were satisfactory to be provided in the feeding of ruminant animals.