The studied material consisted of tubers of the Jerusalem artichoke. The
basic chemical composition. the amino acid and macroelement contents were
determined. The dry matter content in tubers was 24.2 %. While. crude protein, crude
fiber, ether extract, nitrogen free extract and ash content (on DM basis) were 8.91,
5.73,0.85.78.26 and 6.25 %. Results indicated that tubers contain large proportion of
methionine, tryptophan, threonine and traces of cystine. The content of calcium being
0.16 g/kg OM, while. phosphorus was 1.22 g/kg OM. Silage was made from tubers of the Jerusalem artichoke and ammoniated
rice straw (25% of total fresh weight) to Increase the nitrogen and crude tiber content.
Composition of silage was 41.15% OM, 9.35% crude protein, 15.02% crude tiber, and
67.13 % nitrogen free extract (on OM basis). Apparent digestibility coefficients of
tubers and its silage were determined in two trials using five male Os simi sheep. The
digestibility coefficients obtained from the 2 trials were 76,18 and 72.52% OM, 79.24
and 75.15% OM, 65.19 and 61.73% CP, 52.05 and 53.17% CF and 86.12 and
79.35% NFE for fresh tubers and its silage, respectively. When the tubers was ensiled
with ammoniated rice straw, digestibilities of all nutrients decreased than fresh tubers
except crude fiber. The nutritive values were 77.21 and 68.38% TON, and 5,81 and
5,77% OCP for fresh tubers and its silage, respectively. It is concluded that the tubers
from Jerusalem artichoke and its silage can be in feeding ruminants.