Intake, digestibility and performance of lambs fed with diets containing cassava peels

Gilmara Santos Guimarães,Alfredo Machado Alencar,Luciano Lemos Da Silva,Luísa Miranda Girardi Galvão,Lenon Machado Dos Santos,Fabiano Ferreira Da Silva

doi:10.1590/s1413-70542014000300010

Abstract

Sheep farming is designated to economic exploitation, and dry matter intake is the most important factor that influences the performance of animal, thus seeking alternative foods. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of inclusion levels of cassava peel on intake, digestibility and performance of feedlot lambs. We used 32 crossbred lambs Santa Inês uncastrated, mean body weight of 21 ± 1.5 kg. Treatments were arranged in a randomized design to animals, with inclusion levels of cassava peel (0, 10, 20, 30%) in the diet dry matter and forage cassava leaf hay. During 70 days, there have been weighing the food provided, leftovers, and animals, and feces collection. The intake of dry matter (DMI), organic matter (OMI), crude protein (CPI), ether extract (EEI), neutral detergent fiber corrected for ash and protein (NDIap), total carbohydrates (CTI), non-fiber carbohydrates (NFCI), total digestible nutrients (TDNI), as well as DMI and NDFap/kgCP, DMI and NDFIap/PC0.75 levels have not been affected by the inclusion of cassava peel. Similar results for DM digestibility, NDF, CP, MO, CT and the TDN. DEE had a growing linear effect whereas DNFC presented a quadratic effect. Average daily gain (ADG), feed conversion (FC), initial body weight (BWinitial), final body weight (BWfinal), warm carcass weight (WCW) and warm carcass yield (WCR) showed no changes. It is concluded that the peel cassava may be included in diet until 30%, without change dry matter intake and animal performance.

Highlights

Besides contributing to income generation, sheep farming is an economic activity that sustains rural zone families, primarily in the Brazilian semiarid region
The fiber contents in the experimental diets were increasing (Table 2), but did not affect the intake parameters of Dry matter (DM) and OM, which are deemed important in animal performance
According to Mertens (1994), diets with high levels of energy consumption is determined by meeting the nutritional requirements of the animal and diets with low energy levels the limiting factor is the physical capacity for intake

Summary

Introduction

Besides contributing to income generation, sheep farming is an economic activity that sustains rural zone families, primarily in the Brazilian semiarid region. Despite this activity increases the consumption of sheep meat in large urban centers it is still poorly explored in certain regions. The sheep breeds raised for meat production grow faster and have a good carcass finishing; these are very demanding in terms of food supply and sanitary management. Despite having a carcass appearance that falls short of the expected by consumers, native breeds such as the crossbreed Santa Inês have a remarkable adaptability to the semi-arid conditions prevalent in northeastern Brazil (Araújo Filho et al, 2010).

Objectives

Methods

Results