Palm kernel meal originated from oil processing is readily available in Ecuador. However, information related to the nutritive value for ruminants is limited. Therefore, 2 experiments were conducted to evaluate the nutritive value of palm kernel meal (PKM) from oil palm extract plants for ruminants. For Exp. 1, 3 regional plants were selected, and PKM were collected weekly during 12 wk. Proximate analysis was performed on individual samples (mean values ± standard errors across plants for DM, OM, CP, fat and crude fiber were 94.5 ± 0.33, 95.8 ± 0.23, 14.8 ± 0.36, 8.9 ± 0.47, and 68.68 ± 2.42%, respectively). Significant variations were detected for all nutrients analyzed between plants (P ≤ 0.016). Additionally, particle size was different between plants (403 ± 2 µm; P < 0.001). For Exp. 2, 2 ruminally cannulated cows (BW = 445 ± 49.5) were used to determine ruminal in situ degradability of DM, OM, NDF, ADF and CP of PKM, and in vitro ruminal degradability parameters. Cows had ad libitum access to forage, composed of Pennisetum clandestinum. Composite samples of PKM within each plant, from the 12 -wk period of Exp. 1 were used as substrate for determination of in situ degradation kinetics. Substrates were incubated in the ventral sac of the rumen for 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 48, and 72 h, and in situ degradability was replicated in 2 different weeks. In situ digestibility fractions (i.e., immediate soluble, potentially degradable, undegradable, and effective degradability) were not affected by plant for all nutrients analyzed (P ≥ 0.231), with exception of rate of digestion for OM and ADF (0.036 ± 0.001; P ≤ 0.042). Calculated effective degradability for DM and OM were 42.3 ± 4.7, and 16.6 ± 2.1%, respectively. Crude protein effective degradability was 16.1 ± 3.9%. For the fiber contents, NDF and ADF effective degradability were 39.8 ± 5.0%; and 23.1 ± 4.2%, respectively. Additionally, 24 h IVDMD (44.7 ± 2.8%) and total gas production (154.1 ± 59.1 mL/g of substrate) were not different among plants (P = 0.897). Results from these experiments provide relevant nutritive information of PKM as feedstuff for ruminants, and reveal that significant variation between processing plants can be expected in nutrient profile.