• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.58-64
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• 1999

The chemical composition and ruminal dry matter digestibilities of leaves, stems and roots of Aralia cordata Thunberg were determined and compared each other as a roughage sources for ruminants. The crude protein contents were higher for leaves(12.4%) than for leaves+stems (9.7%), stem(5.1%) and roots (3.8%) (P<0.05). The crude fat contents were higher for leaves (3.7%) than for roots (2.1%) and stems (1.3%) (P<0.05). The crude fiber contents were lower for roots (12.3%) than for leaves (15.0%), leaves+stems (27.7%) and stems (40.3%) (P<0.05), respectively. The contents of neutral detergent fiber were lower for leaves (30.2%) than for leaves+stems (42.0%), roots (50.8%) and stems (60.0%) (P<0.05), respectively. The contents of acid detergent fiber were lower for root(18.3%) than for leaves(21.4%). leaves+stems (37.5%) and stems (49.6%) (P<0.05), respectively. The calcium content of leaves(2.4%) were higher than those of stems and roots (0.97% and 0.69%), however the phosphorus contents were similar among leaves, stems and roots(0.25%, 0.19% and 0.35%). Ruminal dry matter digestibilities for 12, 24, 48 and 72hr of leaves(38.9%, 65.9%, 79.8% and 82.4%) and roots(38.9%, 59.8%, 77.6% and 78.5%) were higher than stems(31.1%, 44.1%, 49.5% and 52.6%). Furthermore the digestibilities of leaves were higher than those of alfalfa hay(37.4%, 48.8%, 67.8% and 71.8%) and although the digestibilities of stems which were the lowest among the parts were higher than those of acasia wood chip(12.6%, 18.2%, 21.6% and 24.3%).