Chemical components and enzyme and in vitro digestibility of Woody shrubs used by ruminants in New Caledonian rangelands. I. Typology

Abstract

This study, performed on 45 shrubs from New Caledonia, helped define six fodder shrub groups characterized by their chemical components and their enzyme and in vitro digestibility. Species with highly digestible crude protein contents and organic matter digestibility are the most interesting from a nutritional point of view. The best results are obtained with Gliricidia sepium, Leucaena leucocephala, Acalypha grandis, Samanea saman, Albizia lebbeck, Erythrina SP., Acacia farnesiana and Sesbania grandiflora. On the other hand, data on Desmanthus virgatus and, to a lesser degree, Acacia ampliceps are disappointing.