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Abstract
The potential of sugar cane (Saccharum spp.) as fodder to feed bovine and ovine livestock in the tropics is sustained by comparative advantages with other crops, including its high biomass production, broad range of agroecological adaptation, nutrient-poor soils, resistance to prolonged droughts, and maintenance of its nutritional value during considerable periods. Some of the characteristics that are sought in the fodder varieties of sugar cane are high leaf/stem relation, high yield of dry matter, fiber per hectare, availability during the dry season and the north winds. Sugar cane and agro-industrial residues that derive from it have cell walls, high concentration of sucrose and other soluble sugars that may be used by ruminants. Given that the protein and mineral contents of sugar cane tend to be low, it is recommended to complement the diet based on it with other sources, including energetic grains and protein, agro-industrial byproducts and minerals. In this article, the nutritional characteristics of four varieties of sugar cane are compared, two for fodder: COLPOSCTMEX 05-003 and COLPOSCTMEX 05-264; and two varieties used by the industry (Mex 69-290 and Mex 79-431). The fodder varieties COLPOSCTMEX 05-003 and COLPOSCTMEX 05-264 showed very similar bromatological characteristics to the commercial Mex 69-290 and Mex 79-431, and they produce a higher quantity of fodder due to their high leaf/stem relationship.