The response of three tropical legumes to the ruminal digestion was studied under controlled conditions. Six male bovine animals with a weight of 130 at 140 kg with three replications in a randomized block design were used. These animals were supplied with a determinated quantity of germmable pure seed of the species of Leucaena leucocephala, Centrosema pubescens and Dichrostachys cinerea (marabú). Percent of germination of the different species varied after passage through the digestive tract and produced a light increase in the marabú and a declination in centrosema and leucaena. The great percent of seed was recovered at three days for all species, without differences among them. At five and seven days the greater percent was found in the marabú. with significative differences to the rest (12,6 and 13,5. respectively). It is concluded that the species studied in this experiment presented a little change when they pass through the digestive tract.