Changes in the Apparent Digestibility of the Lupinus rotundiflorus Forage in the Pelibuey Sheep

The shrubs in the range systems contributes with forage which potentially could be use in ruminant feeding, however they must be evaluated in the animal that will consume it as a previous condition to the its normal usage as ingredient. Two trials were carried out to assess; the in rumen disappearance kinetics and in vivo apparent digestibility of Lupinus rotundiflorus (Lr) forage for its further employment in sheep feeding. The results showed that the Dry Matter (DM) consumption of a mixture of corn silage and Lr forage was increased as its amount was augmented. The intake of Organic Matter (OM) was of 358.05 g day 1, presenting an upward behavior in relation to the level of Lr forage inclusion. The apparent digestibility of the OM in the sheep presented the same behavior, but in the case of the DM, it tended to diminish slightly as the Lr forage was added to the mixture. From the results it is concluded that the mixture of corn silage and forage of Lupinus rotundiflorus harvested at 180 days could be added up to 40% of the total mixture to feed sheep.