Chemical composition and the potential and effective degradabilities of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) of passion fruit residue (shelves) were studied in the varieties yellow (Passiflora edulis f. Flavicarpa Degener), purple (Passiflora edulis Sims) and sweet (Passiflora alata) and in the mixture of yellow and purple varieties. DM intake, ruminal concentrations of N-ammonium, volatiles fatty acids (VFA) and pH, and rate of liquid and solid rumen digesta flows were also studied. The residues (shelves) in natura presented a high moisture content, the purple variety showed the highest DM content (17.01%) and the yellow the lowest (10.78%). The CP contents ranged from 9.82% in DM, for the yellow variety to 7.53% for the sweet, while the corresponding P contents were .13% for the sweet and 0.08% for the mixture. The contents of Ca, FDN and FDA showed no difference between varieties. Potential degradabilities of DM, CP and FDN reached the highest level after 48 hours incubation time. A significant interaction between incubation time and variety was observed for the degradability of DM, CP and FDN. The degradabilities of PB and FDN were affected by the varieties. The ED values for FDN were, respectively, 45.85 and 34.61%.The average DM intake was 16.9 kg/animal, equivalent to 3.27% of live weight or 156.11 g/kg0.75, when dried shelves (residue) with 90% of DM was fed. Rumen VFA concentrations ranged from 7.76 to 10.87 mmoles/100 mL, pH from 6.03 to 6.75 and N-ammonium from 4.93 to 9.86 mg/100 mL.
chemical composition; degradability; passion fruit; ruminal parameters
