Abstract
It was evaluated the influence of different proportions and hay particle sizes (two and ten mm) on body weight (BW), dry matter intake (DMI), physiological parameters and ingestive behaviour of sheep. The experiment was conducted in Uberlandia using five cannulated sheep, housed in metabolic cages with slatted floor. The diet was consisted of corn meal and soybean meal, mineral premix and chopped hay. The five treatments were 100% chopped hay with 10 mm; 80% with 10 mm and 20% with 2 mm; 50% with 10 mm and 50% with 2 mm; 80% with 2 mm and 20% with 10 mm and 100% with 2 mm. The forage:concentrate ratio was 30:70. There was no statistical difference in the BW, DMI, water consumption (CH2O), CH2O/DMI, fecal weight, fecal score and volume of urine. The quality of the fiber and the high amount of grain may have been decisive for these equalities. There was no significance on ruminal movements, respiratory rate, rectal temperature and rumen fluid temperature (RFT). The sampling period changed the RFT and pH. There was no significant difference between the animals in the activities of rumination, idleness, intake and chewing due to the low digestibility and feed quality.
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