Factors related to digestibility in Desmodium ovalifolium CIAT 350were studied, using Centrosema macrocarpum CIAT5065 as the control. Consumption and digestibility in vivo (caged sheep) was similar in D. ovalifolium and C. macrocarpum (52 vs 57 and 55.6 vs 56.6, respectively). The variance analysis reported significant differences (P 0.05) were reported in digestibility in vitro of plant parts due to method or sources of inoculation with ruminal bacteria. As a complement, the effect of the drying method on the tanine percentage in the acid detergent fiber (AOF) and on the nitrogen associated to the AOF(N-AOF) was evaluated.