&lt;b&gt;Intake, digestibility, performance and carcass characteristics of ewes fed crambe replacing soybean meal in the diet

Rafael Henrique De Tonissi E Buschinelli De Goes Goes,Mayara Mitiko Yoshihara Carneiro,Kennyson Alves De Souza,Raquel Tenório De Oliveira,Charles Jhonnatan Dos Santos Souza,Milene Puntel Osmari

doi:10.4025/actascianimsci.v40i1.37171

Abstract

The use of alternative sources of protein for ruminant can alter productivity and reduce costs in animal production. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance, apparent digestibility and quantitative characteristics of carcass components of ewes fed increasing levels (0, 50, 100 and 150 g kg -1 dry matter) of crambe crushed in the diets. Twenty-four culling ewes were distributed in a completely randomized design. All animals were kept in a shed, with individual stalls equipped with feeder, drinker and concrete floor covered with rice hulls. The animals received corn silage as roughage and diets were isoenergetic with 700 g kg -1 of TDN. Animals were slaughtered when reached a body condition score of 3.5 points. The dry matter intake (948.53 g day -1 ) and average daily gain (0.15 kg day -1 ) were not influenced by the inclusion of crambe crushed in the diet. The crambe crushed increased ether extract digestibility and decreased crude protein intake and digestibility. There was no effect of the levels of crambe crushed on carcass characteristics and non-carcass components but rather a reduction in the cold carcass yield. Total replacement of soybean meal with crambe crushed in the diet for ewes did not alter performance, carcass and non-carcass characteristics.

Highlights

A large amount of agriculture and agribusiness co-products has potential for use in animal feeding and might be used as sources of nutrients for animals
All animals were kept in a shed, with individual stalls equipped with feeder, drinker and concrete floor covered with rice hulls, and were subjected to a period of adaptation to facilities, management and experimental diet for 14 days
The dry matter intake (DMI) in g day-1, g kg-1 of body weight (g kg-1 BW) and metabolic size (MS) unit were not influenced by the levels of replacement, but Dry matter intake (DMI) (g day-1) was close to that expected (1 kg day-1) (Table 2)

Summary

Introduction

A large amount of agriculture and agribusiness co-products has potential for use in animal feeding and might be used as sources of nutrients for animals. Soybean is the major raw material for vegetable oil production, which accounts for over 800 g kg-1 of the biodiesel produced and represents a major source of protein in animal nutrition. The rising cost of feed has increased the cost of production and reduced the profit margin for producers (Rodrigues et al, 2013). In this sense, there is a growing research for new oilseeds, which produce oil for biodiesel production within the international quality standards Co-products (crambe meal and crambe crushed) have desirable characteristics for use as ruminant feed, in order to contribute to the intensification of production chain

Objectives

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Results