The objective of this research was to determine the chemical composition and ruminal degradation of the crude protein (CP), total and individual amino acids of leaves from tropical forages: perennial soybean (Neonotonia wightii), cassava (Manihot esculenta), leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala) and ramie (Boehmeria nivea), and to estimate the intestinal digestibility of the rumen undegradable protein (RUDP) and individual amino acids of leaves from the tropical forages above cited, but including pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan). Three nonlactating Holstein cows were used to determine the in situ ruminal degradability of protein and amino acids from leaves (6, 18 and 48 hours of ruminal incubation). For determination of the intestinal digestibility of RUDP, the residue from ruminal incubation of the materials was used for 18 hours. A larger concentration of total amino acids for ramie and smaller for perennial soybean were observed; however, they were very similar in leucaena and cassava. Leucine was the essential amino acid of greater concentration, with the exception of cassava, which exhibited a leucine concentration 40.45% smaller. Ramie showed 14.35 and 22.31% more lysine and methionine, respectively. The intestinal digestibility of RUDP varied from 23.56; 47.87; 23.48; 25.69 and 10.86% for leucaena, perennial soybean, cassava, ramie and pigeon pea, respectively. The individual amino acids of tropical forage disappeared in different extensions in the rumen. For the correct evaluation of those forages, one should consider their composition of amino acids, degradations and intestinal digestibility, once the amino acid composition of the forage does not reflect the amino acid profiles that arrived in the small intestine. Differences between the degradation curves of CP and amino acids indicate that degradation of amino acids cannot be estimated through the degradation curve of CP, and that amino acids are not degraded in a similar degradation profile.

O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar os efeitos das fontes nitrogenadas e o uso de Sacharomyces cerevisiae em dietas à base de cana-de-açúcar sobre os consumos e as digestibilidades aparentes totais e parciais de matéria seca (MS), matéria orgânica (MO), proteína bruta (PB), extrato etéreo (EE), carboidratos totais (CHO), fibra em detergente neutro (FDN) e carboidratos não-estruturais (CNE), o balanço nitrogenado e os parâmetros ruminais. Foram utilizados quatro novilhos Holandês-Zebu, fistulados no rúmen e abomaso, alimentados com quatro rações à base de cana-de-açúcar, constituídas de duas fontes nitrogenadas (uréia ou cama de frango) combinadas com dois níveis de Sacharomyces cerevisiae (0 e 10 g/dia). Utilizou-se delineamento em quadrado latino 4 x 4. A fibra em detergente neutro indigestível (FDNi) foi utilizada como indicador, para determinar as digestibilidades aparentes totais e parciais. Os consumos de MS, MO, EE, CT e CNE não foram influenciados pelas fontes nitrogenadas e pela utilização de Sacharomyces cerevisiae. Os consumos de PB e FDN foram maiores para as dietas suplementadas com cama de frango. Os coeficientes de digestibilidades totais de PB e EE foram maiores para as dietas constituídas de uréia. As digestibilidades aparentes totais de MS, MO, CT e FDN não foram influenciadas pelas fontes nitrogenadas e pela utilização de Sacharomyces cerevisiae. O pH do líquido ruminal decresceu linearmente para as dietas suplementadas com uréia e apresentou comportamento quadrático, quando estas dietas foram combinadas com Sacharomyces cerevisiae. As concentrações de amônia no líquido ruminal apresentaram comportamento quadrático, estimando-se valores máximos de 16,90; 26,12; 18,48; e 14,40 mg/100 mL para os tratamentos constituídos de cana-de-açúcar e uréia; cana-de-açúcar, uréia e Sacharomyces cerevisiae; cana-de-açúcar e cama de frango; e cana-de-açúcar, cama de frango e Sacharomyces cerevisiae, respectivamente.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of the non-nitrogenous sources and the addition of Sacharomyces cerevisiae to sugarcane based diets on the intakes and the total and partial apparent digestibilities of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), total carbohydrates (TC), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and non- structural carbohydrates (NEC). The nitrogen balance and ruminal parameters were also evaluated. Four Holstein-Zebu young bulls rumen and abomasal fistulated were allotted to a 4x4 Latin Square design in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement. The animals were fed with sugar cane based diets, supplemented with two nitrogenous sources (urea or poultry litter) and two daily Sacharomyces cerevisiae addition (0 and 10 g/anim.). The indigestible neutral detergent fiber (NDFi) was used as a marker, to determine the total and partial apparent digestibilities of the nutrients. The intakes of DM, OM, EE, TC, NEC was not influenced by the nitrogenous sources and by the Sacharomyces cerevisiae addiction. The intakes of CP and NDF were higher for the diets supplemented by poultry litter. The coefficients of total digestibilities of CP and EE were higher for diets with urea. The apparent total digestibilities of DM, OM,TC, and NDF were not influenced by the nitrogenous sources and by the Sacharomyces cerevisiae addiction. The ruminal pH linearly decreased for the diets supplemented with urea, and presented a quadratic response when these diets were combined with Sacharomyces cerevisiae. The ruminal ammonia concentrations presented a quadratic behavior, and the maximum estimated values of 16.90; 26.12; 18.48 and 14.40 mg/dL for the diets with sugar-cane and urea, sugar cane, urea and Sacharomyces cerevisiae; sugar cane and poultry litter; sugar cane, poultry litter and Sacharomyces cerevisiae, respectively.