RUMEN DEGRADATION AND IN-VIVO DIGESTIBILITY OF DRIED CALLIANDRA-CALOTHYRSUS LEAVES

Leaves and young shoots of Calliandra calothyrsus were harvested in Ki sii (Kenya) at 12, 24 and 48 weeks regrowth after the first cutting. T he material was sun dried, ground, put in nylon bags and incubated in the rumen of three cannulated lactating Friesian cows fed pre-wilted E nglish rye grass silage ad libitum and supplemented with 2 kg concentr ate per day. The bags were removed at 3. 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 336 h a fter the start of incubation. The different parameters characterising the extent and rate of ruminal degradation of dry matter and nitrogen were calculated. In sacco residue of dry matter and nitrogen increased , while rumen degradable protein and intestinal digestible protein dec reased with plant maturity. In vivo digestibility studies were done wi th one mature (2 years old) and two young wethers (8 months old), Swif ter cross-bred sheep. Dry matter digestibility of 41.6% was found in 2 4-week-old dried Calliandra leaves.