摘要:Eight tropical seeds from browse, shrubs and pulses plants were assessed for their nutritive value using in vitro gas production technique. Dry Matter (DM), Crude Protein (CP), crude fibre, ash, ether extract and Neutral Detergent Fibre (NDF) were analyzed. Milled seeds were incubated using 200 mg/30 ml inoculum for 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 and 24 h. At post incubation, the total gas volume was measured for methane using 4 ml of 10 M NaOH. Dynamics of gas production characteristics over time were described by equation Vt = Vf x [1 + exp {2-4 x S x (t-L)}] - 1. Metabolizable Energy (ME; MJ/kg DM), Organic Matter Digestibility (OMD; %) and short chain fatty acid s (SCFA; μmol/200 mg DM)) were estimated. DM was lowest (88.1%) in Leucaena leucocephala and was the best (95.6%) in Tephrosia bracteolata seeds. CP ranged from 25-38.9% being the least (25.0%) for Lablab purpureus and the highest (38.9%) for Tehprosia candida . NDF of the seeds varied from 27.1% in Tephrosia bracteolata to 49.1% in Leucaena leucocephala . The volume of gas produced by the seeds consistently increased (p<0.05) and was significantly (p<0.05) highest in pulse legumes. Potential extent (Vt) of gas production ranged from 36.8-53.6 and that of fractional rate of gas production from 0.043-0.07. The ranged values 7.5-10.4, 50.7-70.4 and 0.751-1.185 for ME, OMD and SCFA respectively were significantly (p<0.05) highest in Tephrosia bracteolata seeds. The CH4 production varied from 148 μml in Albizia lebbeck to 300 μml in Carnavalia ensiformis . The result showed that the seeds were high in nutrients, digestible and metabolizable energy with relatively low methane production and therefore could be used for ruminants as feedstuffs.