Effect of agronomic practices on the nutritional composition and in vitro digestibility of Tithonia diversifolia and Moringa oleifera in pig diets.

Background: Tropical livestock production systems face challenges related to the availability and digestibility of quality forages. Tithonia diversifolia and Moringa oleifera have emerged as promising alternatives due to their high nutritional value and adaptability, although their performance is influenced by agronomic practices. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate how agronomic factors, such as cutting height and frequency in T. diversifolia and planting density in M. oleifera, affect forage yield, chemical composition, and in vitro digestibility and to determine the effect of including their flours in pig diets. Methods: Four experimental trials were conducted in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Cutting heights (10, 25, and 40 cm) and frequencies (40-60 days) were tested for T. diversifolia, whereas three planting densities (60, 80, and 100 k plants/ha) were evaluated for M. oleifera. In vitro digestibility assays were performed using diets with 5%, 10%, and 15% flour inclusion levels. Proximate analysis, fiber fractionation, and energy estimations were performed. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance, Kruskal-Wallis, and GLM models. Results: Cutting T. diversifolia at 40 cm and harvesting at 50-55 days maximized biomass and crude protein content while minimizing structural fiber. Moringa oleifera showed no significant differences in composition among planting densities, although higher densities tended to increase yield. The in vitro digestibility of organic matter remained above 70% with 5%-10% forage inclusion, and the energy values (DE, EM, and NE) were maintained. Higher inclusion levels (15%) decreased the starch content and digestibility rates. Conclusion: Agronomic optimization significantly improves the forage quality of T. diversifolia and M. oleifera. Their moderate inclusion in pig diets is viable without compromising digestibility or energy supply, offering a sustainable feeding strategy in tropical systems.