Abstract
ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of replacing Tifton 85 hay with maniçoba hay in diets based on spineless cactus on the nutrient intake and digestibility, ingestive behaviour and ruminal parameters of confined sheep. In order to do this, eight male sheep with ruminal cannulae were used, distributed across four levels (0, 333, 666 and 1.000 g kg-1 of dry matter) of replacement of Tifton 85 hay with maniçoba hay in a double Latin square experimental design. The animals were confined for 60 days divided into four periods of 15 days. The replacement of Tifton 85 hay with maniçoba hay did not influence the dry matter intake or digestibility. However, it influenced in a positive linear fashion the intake of non-fibrous carbohydrates and in a linear negative fashion the digestibility of insoluble fibre in neutral detergent and crude protein. The ruminal ammonia-nitrogen and the crude protein ruminal content decreased linearly with the replacement of Tifton 85 hay with maniçoba hay. There was no effect of hay replacement on the production of volatile fatty acids or the microbial biofilm. The total replacement Tifton 85 by maniçoba hay in spineless cactus diets for sheep did not influence total digestible nutrient intake, volatile fatty acid production or biofilm, but did affect crude protein digestibility, ammonia-nitrogen and crude protein content in the rumen. Therefore, maniçoba hay can replace 300 g kg-1 grass hay in spineless cactus diets for sheep without compromising intake and ruminal parameters.
Highlights
The increasing frequency of drought in the tropics on the planet has contributed to nutritional insecurity of ruminant herds in these regions (DARCAN, SILANIKOVE, 2018)
The spineless cactus is rich in non-fibrous carbohydrate (NFC) and has low levels of neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and lignin (SANTOS et al, 2018)
The replacement of the Tifton 85 hay with maniçoba hay did not influence the dry matter (DM) intake (mean ± standard deviation, 1.30 ± 0.19 kg day–1; 2.46 ± 0.38 g kg–1 body weight (BW), and 66.50 ± 10.12 g kg–1 BW0.75), indicating the potential of maniçoba hay – a drought resistant shrub – as a substitute for the hay grasses used in spineless cactus diets (Table 3)
Summary
The increasing frequency of drought in the tropics on the planet has contributed to nutritional insecurity of ruminant herds in these regions (DARCAN, SILANIKOVE, 2018). Forage resources tolerant to water deficiency, such as spineless cactus, are important in the promotion of animal food security in tropical environments. The spineless cactus is rich in non-fibrous carbohydrate (NFC) and has low levels of neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and lignin (SANTOS et al, 2018). These characteristics result in rapid and high ruminal degradability and extensive gas production (DEL RAZO et al, 2015), factors associated with the occurrence of bloat in spineless-cactus-exclusive diets (SANTOS et al, 2010). It is essential to use a fibre source in association with the spineless cactus to avoid nutritional disorders that compromise animal performance (RAMOS et al, 2013). Other forages besides grasses, such as hay or silage from trees and shrubs, contain fibre and can be used in diets in association with spineless cactus (WANDERLEY et al, 2012)
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