The objetive ofthis study was to verify differences among forages species in relation to thepercentage of identifiable fragment as affected by the digestion process andseason. Fresh last expanded leaf lamina samples of the species Melinis minutifloraPal. de Beauv (Molassesgrass), Hyparrhenia rufa (Nees) Stapf. (Jaraguagrass),Brachiaria decumbens Stapf. (Signalgrass), Imperata brasiliensesTrin. (Sapegrass), and foliar laminas of Medicago sativa L. (Alfalfa)and Schinus terebenthifolius Raddi (Aroeira), sampled in the rainy anddry seasons, were digested in vitro and prepared according to the microhistologicaltechnique. The digestion process caused change of 19 units in the percentageof identifiable fragments whose values varied among forage species. The seasondid not influence the percentage of identifiable fragments for most species;the presence of pigments and adherence of epidermis to internal tissues of theleaf hindered the identification of fragments. The digestion improved the identificationof sapegrass fragments, jaraguagrass and Schinus terebenthifolius Raddi,but hindered identification of signalgrass fragments and mainly those of alfalfa.
