DETERGENT FIBRE ANALYSIS AND PROXIMATE COMPOSITION OF 12 IMPROVED TROPICAL FORAGE LEGUME SPECIES IN THE SOUTHERN GUINEA SAVANNA OF NIGERIA

Abstract

This study was conducted to assess the detergent fibre fractions and proximate composition at maturity of 12 tropical improved forage legumes. The results showed significant (P<0.05) differences among the 12 forage legume species for detergent fibre analysis. The lignin content ranged from 10.66% for Cajanus cajan to 14.70 for Lablab purpureus. ADF content ranged from 26.13% to 32.04% for Gliricidia sepium and Desmodium intortum respectively. The NDF for the legume species ranged from 42.88% to 54.70% for Gliricidia sepium and Centrosema pascuorum, respectively. The percent dry matter ranged from 95.70% in Lablab purpureus to 98.83% in Cajanus cajan. Percent crude protein (CP) recorded ranged from 9% in Cajanus cajan to 17.75% in Aeschynomene americanum. Ash percent of the forage legume species ranged from 5.32% in Stylosanthes hamata to 8.52% in Leucaena leucocephala. The percent dry matter ranged from 95.70% in Lablab purpureus to 98.83% in Cajanus cajan. The results obtained in this study revealed that most of the forage legumes species have the potential to supply adequate nutrients for ruminant production.