Digestibilidad y valor nutritivo de las pajas de nueve leguminosas cultivadas para grano

lentejas (Lens esculenta Moench), algarrobas (Vicia monanthos, L.), almortas (Lathyrus sativus, L.), yeros (Ervilia sativa, Link), veza (Vicia sativa, L.), guisantes (Pisum sativum, L.), garbanzos (Cicer arietinum, L.), alubias (Phaseoulus vulgaris, L.) y habas (Vicia faba, L)

Abstract

A series of experiments have been carried out with the aim of deter­mining the digestibility of the straw of the nine most common leguminous crops grown for seed in Spain.
As experimental animals wether lambs of Churra breed were used kept in metabolic cages for 20 days, 10 for the previous and 10 for the collection period. In each experiment 4 to 6 animals were used, the intake varying betwenn 600 and 800 grams of straw per animal per day.

The coefficients of digestihility for dry matter, organic matter, protein, fat, fibre, Nitrogen-free extracts and cellulose were determined and the results are examined and compared with those that figure in the biblio­graphy.

The coefficients for organic matter are higher than those previously reported. Based on the experimental results the T D N, starch units and Scandinavian feed units were calculated. The digestible and metaholizable energy had previously been  determined in the same labora­tory. All these  measurements of nutritive value have turned out to be consistently higher than those previously reported, which explains why these straws are appreciated by spanish farmers.