Abstract
ABSTRACT The present study aimed to morphometrically evaluate the ruminal mucosa and ruminal fluid characteristics of Santa Inês sheep fed different levels of spineless cactus as a replacement for Tifton grass hay. A total of 32 intact male Santa Inês sheep, approximately 180 days old and with a mean weight of 32.0±1.6kg, were studied in a completely randomized design with four treatments and eight replicates. The morphometric measurements evaluated in the ruminal epithelium (papilla height and surface area) were significantly affected (P< 0.05) by supplementation of the diet with spineless cactus, and these effects showed increasing linear trends. Evaluations of the ruminal fluid also showed a significant increasing linear effect (P< 0.05) for ammonia and a quadratic effect for microbial protein. The inclusion of spineless cactus in the sheep diet affects the ruminal epithelium morphology, including the papilla height and surface area, and favors the absorption process in the rumen. The diet containing higher levels of spineless cactus led to maximum microbial protein production. These results characterize spineless cactus as a feasible alternative for feeding sheep during periods of drought, when the typical food source is scarce.
Highlights
Sheep production in Brazil is an activity of great social and economic importance, especially for the Northeastern region, and plays a crucial role in the development of the region, where 52% of the Brazilian national herd, that is, 17.7 million sheep (Conservation..., 2009), is concentrated
The morphometric, height, and surface area measurements evaluated in the ruminal epithelium were significantly affected (P< 0.05) by supplementing spineless cactus in the diet and showed an increasing linear trend (Table 2)
The data demonstrated that with the increasing amount of spineless cactus in the Santa Inês sheep diet to replace Tifton hay, an increase in papilla height and surface area in the rumen was present, most likely stimulated by the elevation in non fiber carbohydrates in the diet, which increased by 225% compared to the treatment without spineless cactus
Summary
Sheep production in Brazil is an activity of great social and economic importance, especially for the Northeastern region, and plays a crucial role in the development of the region, where 52% of the Brazilian national herd, that is, 17.7 million sheep (Conservation..., 2009), is concentrated. In this region, the dry season represents a large obstacle for animal production due to food scarcity and decreases in the nutritional value of the forages, leading to the need to confine animals during periods of drought, which elevates the cost of production. The present study aimed to evaluate morphological alterations in the ruminal epithelium as well as to study the ruminal fermentation parameters in Santa Inês sheep fed different levels of spineless cactus to replace Tifton grass hay (Cynodon ssp.)
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