Chemical composition, mineral profile, carbohydrate fractionation, dry matter digestibility and in vitro gas production of Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw at different phenological stages

The aim was to evaluate the chemical and mineral composition, carbohydrate fractionation, in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), and in vitro gas production of Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw at different phenological stages. The experiment was carried out in a completely randomised design, in which 4 plants of the same size were selected at random, and from these plants, leaves were collected at 3 phenological stages: young (leaves at the apex of the plant), intermediate (leaves in the middle parts of the plant) and mature (leaves at the base of the plant). Higher levels of ether extract (P = 0.001) and cellulose (P = 0.010) were obtained at maturity. The concentration of Boron in intermediate (35.58 g/kg DM) and mature (27.79 g/kg DM) leaves, and Zn in young (58.19 g/kg DM) and mature (54.98 g/kg DM) leaves decreased with the phenological stage. High levels of non-fibre carbohydrates influenced the in vitro gas production kinetics, with higher concentrations for young and intermediate stages. Under experimental conditions, Furcraea foetida is inferred to be a plant with a high energy content that preserves its nutrients in the different phenophases evaluated, a positive factor for its use as a forage plant for ruminant production in the semiarid region.