The objectives of this study were to determine the nutritive value of four promising tropical forage legumes from CIAT germplasm bank. A randomized complete block design with four treatments and four replications was used for the feeding trial, totalling 16 African sheep (11.28 ± 0_8 kgO.75) as experimental units. C. macrocarpum 5065 was found to have a very high nutritive value, measured both in terms of protein concentration and digestible nutrient intake. S_ macrocephala 1643 had high intake potential, despite its low leaf: stem ration when mature as a result of the considerable proportion of inflorescences with a high nutritive value and intake. S. guianensis 'tardio had a low voluntary intake despite its relatively good leaf: stern ratio when mature Z. brasiliensis 7485 had an extremely low intake, which is associated with digestive disorders caused by alkaloids.