MSCAGR (Animal Science) / Department of Animal Science / Soya bean (Glycine max) is a legume that is mostly cultivated for food grain which can be used as high-protein forage for grazing, haying or ensiling. The use of forage soya bean by small holder farmers is currently very limited. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the nutritive value of three trifoliate forage Soya bean cultivars (Locally denoted as 4-LF, PAN, and TGX). The study was carried out at the University of Venda where the soya beans were planted in 63 25L pots (21 pots for each cultivar) which were randomly placed on the floor of an open, wire-net protected house. Forage harvested at three growth stages (pre-anthesis, anthesis and postanthesis). Samples of the forage were analyzed for dry matter (DM), ash, crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) micro and macro minerals. Ruminal DM and CP degradability were evaluated in situ by incubation of samples within nylon bags (external dimension: 6 × 12 cm, pore size of 46 μm) in the rumen of three Bonsmara steers for 0, 6, 12, 16, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours. Estimates of rapidly degradable fraction “a”, slowly degradable fraction “b”, constant outflow rate ‘c’ and the DM or CP degradability (p) at time (t) were estimated by fitting the degradability data into the exponential equation P = a + b (1 - e-ct) using the NEWAY computer programme. Parameters were subjected to ANOVA for a 3 X 3 factorial treatment arrangement using the General Linear Model procedures of MINITAB software (version 17 of 2014). Effective degradability ED) was estimated asED = a + bc at fractional outflow rates of k= (k +c) 2%, 5% and 8%. In vitro enzymatic DM and CP digestibility of rumen undegradable residues collected after 24 and 48-hour incubation was determined by simulating sequential gastro-small intestinal digestion. Cultivar PAN harvested post anthesis had significantly higher (p< 0.05) CP than other cultivars. The CP content increased with growth stage. Cultivar 4LF harvested preanthesis had significantly highest (p< 0.05) NDF. The cultivar had no significant effect (p> 0.05) on DM, ash, CP, NDF, ADF and minerals. Cultivar PAN harvested pre-anthesis had significantly highest (p< 0.05) Mg. The harvest stage significantly affected (p< 0.05) mineral content other than (p> 0.05) Zn and Cu. Cultivar TGX harvested pre-anthesis had significantly highest (p< 0.05) effective degradability of dry matter at k=0.08. Fraction ‘c’ and ED at k= 0.08 were lower (p> 0.05) in cultivar * growth stage interaction in dry matter degradability. Fraction ‘a’ for CP was highest (p< 0.05) for cultivar TGX harvested post-anthesis. Fraction ‘c’ was lower (p> 0.05) for cultivar 4LF harvested at anthesis stage. There was a significant effect (p< 0.05) on crude protein soluble fraction ‘c’ and effective degradability k=0.08 in cultivar and growth stage interaction. There was no significant interaction (p> 0.05) of the cultivar X growth stage on crude protein degradability at 48 hours, IVCPD at 24 and 48 hours with significant effect on crude protein degradation at 24 hours caused by cultivar TGX at pre-anthesis growth stage. In conclusion, growth stage increases the chemical composition of soya bean but does not affect digestibility. / NRF