Abstract
The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of copra meal (the waste coconut of the oil industry) on in vitro ruminal kinetic and greenhouse gases production and on in vivo lamb performance. Twenty-eight male Rambouillet sheep (initial body weight 24.5 ± 3.9 kg) were randomly assigned to one of the four treatments: 0, 50, 100, and 150 g of copra meal/kg in their diet (dry matter basis). Final weight, weight gain, and feed intake were not affected (p > 0.05) by the copra meal addition. The gas production volume (V) decreased, and the gas production rate increased, in a linear trend (p < 0.05) as copra meal was added to the diet. In contrast, methane and CO2 production showed an opposite quadratic trend (p < 0.05), with the highest and lowest values reported at 100 g/kg DM of copra meal, respectively. The addition of copra meal in the lambs’ diet decreases the volume of gas production and is a strategy to decrease methane and carbon dioxide production in feeding without affecting animal performance.
Highlights
Sheep, like other ruminants, use fibrous materials and convert them into high nutritional value products [1]
Copra meal is obtained from the solid part of the endosperm of the nut and is reduced to pieces
González-Garduño et al [6] reported that supplementation with coconut paste increases weight gains in lambs at grazing; these results may be due to high oil content
Summary
Like other ruminants, use fibrous materials and convert them into high nutritional value products (meat and milk) [1]. Copra meal is obtained from the solid part of the endosperm of the nut and is reduced to pieces It is usually considered waste, and it is mentioned that large quantities of this are left to rot in the fields as unwanted material [5]. Some reports have calculated an energy value equivalent to 2.5 kg of corn and sorghum, which makes it attractive for ruminants feed due to its energy value, 4.7 Mcal/kg DM (Dry Matter). In this sense, González-Garduño et al [6] reported that supplementation with coconut paste increases weight gains in lambs at grazing; these results may be due to high oil content
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