SABAL-MEXICANA MART AND SABAL-JAPA WRIGHT EX BECC (PALMACEAE) - POTENTIAL RESOURCES FOR ANIMAL FEEDING

The chemical characterization of the whole fruit and the seed of Sabal mexicana and Sabal japa was carried out for determining its posible u se in pigs and ruminant feeding. Green fruits and seeds of S. mexicana and S. japa from Xocchil and Merida in the State of Yucatan were used . The corresponding meals were obtained and the following determinatio ns were carried out: proximal chemical analysis, fiber fractions, in v itro DM digestibility (IVDMD), trypsine inhibitor, alkaloids, hemaglut inins, saponins, cianogenic glucosides, tannins, niacine, thiamine, ri boflavin, calcium, iron, phosphorus and crude energy. Results of fruit s and seeds of S. mexicana and S. japa, respectively were: crude prote in (%) 10.5,8.8,10.1,7.2; crude fibre 26.4, 285, 32.1, 26.0; IVDMD (%) 64.5, 53.1, 63.9, 59.7; lignin (%) 13.4 8.9, 8.2, 4.9; trypsine inhib itor (UIT) 2315,2984, 1219, 2350; tannic acid (mg/100 g) 238, 508, 82, 218; hemaglutinins and cianogenic glucosides were negative and saponi ns, positive. On the other hand, mineral and vitamin contents were min imum, while crude energy was of (KJ/g) 16.190, 17.237, 15.093, 16.190. From the results obtained it was concluded that especially the fruits of both species, could be regionally used as ingredients for the rati on for pig and ruminant feeding.