This research was carried out to evaluate the chemical composition of cipó-de-escada (Bauhinia glabra Jacq) hay at 42, 56, 70, 84 and 98 days of growth after uniformity cut. A completely randomized experimental design, with five treatments and four replicates, was used. The hay was obtained from an area of native pasture lowed and cleaned of 7200 m², which were subdivided in plots of 360 m². There were no differences for the content of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), hemicellulose and phosphorus (P). However, differences were observed for the neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), cellulose, lignin and calcium (Ca) contents among the treatments. The average contents for the chemical composition were: 88.90% DM, 94.17% OM, 5.51% ash, 17.97% CP, 58.12% NDF, 40.88% ADF, 17.11% hemicellulose, 27.33% CEL, 12.77% LIG, 0.29% Ca and 0.15% P. The evaluated hays can be used as protein supplement in the diet for ruminants. The cell wall and Ca constituents linearly increased as vegetative stage developed.
Bauhinia glabra; chemical composition; hay
