Abstract
Ostriches can digest feed fiber, however, the usefulness of including forages common in Mexico in complete diets for this specie is unknown. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the proportion in which nutrients of complete diets which include corn silage (CS) were in fact digested. All diets (CS: A: 0.00, B: 10.0, C: 20.0 and D: 30.0 %) were formulated to satisfy minimum nutritional requirements of crude protein (12.5 %), fiber (16.0 %) and metabolic energy (2.6 Mcal kg-1 feed). In a 4x4 Latin square design, four diets were consecutively dispensed to each one of four ostriches in its finalization stage (12 mo of age, males) for a 10 d period, the first 3 d as conditioning time and the other 7 d were considered on-test. Feed and feces were sampled in triplicate. Apparent digestibility (AD) of dry matter (DMAD), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) were estimated. Statistically significant differences were not observed either in diet intake, weight increase or feed conversion index. However, inclusion of CS in diets allowed for a better performance for protein, NDF and ADF AD. Diet cost fell when CS content increased. Results of this study suggest that CS use in ostriches diet formulas, could increase technical and economic efficiency.
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