Mesquite pod meal in diets for Santa Inês sheep: ingestive behavior

Taiala Cristina De Jesus Pereira,César Augusto Ramos Pereira,Alana Batista Dos Santos,Mara Lúcia Albuquerque Pereira,Paulo José Presídio Almeida,Edileusa De Jesus Dos Santos

doi:10.4025/actascianimsci.v35i2.16221

Taiala Cristina De Jesus Pereira, César Augusto Ramos Pereira + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.4025/actascianimsci.v35i2.16221

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Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the ingestive behavior of sheep fed increasing levels of mesquite pod meal (0, 15, 30 and 45% in total dry matter diet), replacing grass silage elephant. Eight non-castrated Santa Ines sheep with average weight of 32 kg were divided into two 4 x 4 Latin squares, each lasting 15 days. The sheep were submitted to visual observation every ten minutes, for 24 hours, in the 13thday of each experimental period. There was no significant regression (p > 0.05) relative to the time spent on feeding, rumination and resting, depending on the levels of substitution of mesquite pod meal. The average time spent on feeding, rumination and resting was 5.64, 10.88 and 8.8h day-1, respectively. There was a positive linear effect (p < 0.05) regarding the levels of replacement of elephant grass silage by mesquite pod meal on dry matter intake (DMI), neutral detergent fiber intake (NDFI), feeding efficiency of DM, rumination efficiency of DM, rumination efficiency of NDF. The use of observation intervals of up to 30 minutes does not alter the assessment of time spent on feeding, rumination and resting.

Highlights

Food shortage during dry periods is the main problem of low zootechnical indices of sheep-raising in Northeastern Brazil
dry matter (DM) intake in kg day-1 has linearly increased (p < 0.05) as the levels of replacement of elephant grass silage by mesquite pod meal (MPM) have increased (Table 2), probability due to reducing the physical filling caused by high neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content of elephant grass silage may have contributed to the increased intake of DM
A similar result was observed for the consumption of NDF, which was linearly and positively (p < 0.05) associated with the replacement levels of elephant grass silage by mesquite pod meal (Table 2)

Summary

Introduction

Food shortage during dry periods is the main problem of low zootechnical indices of sheep-raising in Northeastern Brazil. For mesquite pod meal is largely available in the region and has an excellent nutritional value, it is a nutritional alternative for sheep this time of the year; in addition, the use of tropical legumes in the diet of animals has aroused the interest of researchers over the last years, especially because these foods contribute substantially to reduce costs of production. C.] was introduced in Brazil - mainly in the Northeastern region - over 50 years ago and can live in dry environments and produce large amounts of pods. The study of ingestive behavior can elucidate problems related to the decrease in consumption during critical periods, associated with the effects of management practices, sizing of facilities, quality and quantity of the diet. The assessment of shortterm behavioral parameters has received increasing attention from researchers in the fields of animal nutrition and production (CARVALHO et al, 2006, 2008; FISCHER et al, 1997, 1998; MORAIS et al, 2006; POMPEU et al, 2009)

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