Abstract
Simple SummaryDietary fat is important for animals, not only because it supplies essential fatty acids and fat-soluble vitamins, but also because of its high energy content, approximately twice as many calories per gram of carbohydrates. Thus, it induces a caloric increase, in addition to modulating the fatty acid (FA) profile of meat. Vegetable oils inclusion in the diet of lambs improves the lipid quality of meat. Among them, buriti oil (Mauritia flexuosa L.F.) is an example that stands out; it can represent an important alternative to meet the energy demands of lambs, particularly because of its easy availability, especially in the northern and northeast states of Brazil. In addition, as a consequence of the high cost of protein supplements in feed concentrates, unconventional alternatives have been exploited in recent years. Thus, this research proposes the use of a byproduct of the biofuel industry. This study was conducted to enhance our knowledge of interesting opportunities for farmers in terms of lamb meat production. Its use could promote activity in the livestock sector by reducing feed costs and becoming an alternative to producers without easy access to more expensive supplements.Buriti (Mauritia flexuosa L.) oil (BO) is a byproduct that can be incorporated into the diet of lambs, thus increasing the energy density. The study aimed to evaluate the optimum BO inclusion level in lamb diets. Sixty-five Santa Ines lambs were distributed in two completely randomized experiments with five treatments each (BO inclusion at 0 (control), 12, 24, 36 and 48 g/kg dry matter (DM) total). The BO supplementation to partially replace ground corn linearly decreased the nutrient intake and digestibility of DM, ether extract and neutral detergent fiber (NDF), N° chews/bolus, DM and NDF rumination or eating efficiencies, the N intake and N balance, carcass weights and yields, and dressing content of lamb carcasses (p < 0.05). The addition of BO responded quadratically to DM eating efficiency and N-fecal and N-urinary excretion (p < 0.05). The linear response plateau (LRP) analysis demonstrated that the levels of 0 and 12 g/kg of BO were similar, and improved intake and digestibility and consequently performance (p < 0.001). There was a linear increase in feed efficiency and shrinkage after chilling with the BO inclusion replacing ground corn. The inclusion of 12 g/kg BO in the total DM of diet is recommended, because it improves feeding intake, digestibility and performance of lambs.
Highlights
In animal feed, researchers are studying alternative sources of feed, such as the byproducts derived from biodiesel, which can reduce production system costs and improve the profitability of producers without harming animal performance [1,2,3]
Zinn and Jorquera [13] affirm that, regardless of the source and form of fat addition to the diet, the nutrient value of fat assigned by the National Research Council-NRC [14] tends to be consistent when total fat intake does not exceed the proportion of 0.96 g intake fat/kg body weight (BW)
Intestinal fatty acid (FA) digestibility, and the NE value of supplemental fats used in feedlot diets, is a highly predictable function based on the total FA intake per unit of BW
Summary
Researchers are studying alternative sources of feed, such as the byproducts derived from biodiesel, which can reduce production system costs and improve the profitability of producers without harming animal performance [1,2,3]. The great benefit of using vegetable seed oils such as BO is the dietetic energy increase, as it has greater energy content than carbohydrate sources, increasing the energy density of diets, reducing fermentation, caloric increment, and improving productive efficiency [10]. If fat intake is higher than this proportion, the energy value of fat decreases linearly as a direct result of the reduction of intestinal fatty acid (FA) digestibility (mainly C18:0), possibly because of a limited bile production capacity [14]. Intestinal FA digestibility, and the NE value of supplemental fats used in feedlot diets, is a highly predictable function based on the total FA intake per unit of BW
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