A NOTE ON THE CHEMICAL-COMPOSITION OF VIGNA-UNGUICULATA (L) WALP, AS A POSSIBLE FORAGE SOURCE

The chemical composition of Vigna unguiculata (L) Walp as a possible s ource for animal feeding in the Mexican tropic was studied. The compos ition of leaves and green husks is offered (%): Crude protein 16.5 and 20.2, crude fibre 20.2 and 26.5, iigning 8.2 and 7.0, cellulose 9.6 a nd 19.7, tannic acid (mg/100 g) 17.1 and 275.3, tripsine inhibitor (IU /g) 2191.3 and 2893.8, calcium (mg/100 g) 1299.7 and 201.2 phosphorus (mg/100 g) 172.9 (no green husks were observed) iron (mg/100 g) 949.9 and 133.1, dry matter in vitro digestibility (%) 61.5 and 60.4. Hemagl utinine, saponines and cyanogenic glucosides were not detected. It is concluded that this plant can be used as a forage source in the Mexica n tropics, although further studies on this topic are necessary.