Substitution of Corn for Mesquite Pod Meal in Diets for Lambs

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate intake, digestibility, ingestive behaviour, and body weight variation in lambs fed mesquite pod meal (0, 30, 60 and 90%) in substitution of ground corn grains (as-fed basis) in pelleted diets. Twelve Santa Ines×Dorper lambs with average body weight of 25.0±1.8 kg were distributed through three 4×4 Latin Squares consisting of four periods and four treatments. Diets consisted of 30% alfalfa hay and 70% concentrate. The experimental period was 60 days, divided into 15-day periods. The intakes of dry matter (DM), total carbohydrates (TC) and total digestible nutrients (TDN) were not influenced (P>0.05) by the different levels of mesquite pod meal added in substitution of corn. The digestibility coefficients of DM, organic matter (OM), ether extracts (EE), neutral detergent fibre free of ash and protein (NDFap), TC and the TDN decreased linearly (P<0.05) as the level of mesquite pod meal in the diet was increased. Feed efficiency [g DM and neutral detergent fibre (NDF)/hour] was not influenced (P>0.05) by the mesquite pod meal levels; contrastingly, this feedstuff caused a reduction of 12.13 and 1.9 g in rumination efficiency (g DM and NDF/hour, respectively) for every percentage unit added. The average weight gain showed quadratic behaviour (P<0.05) as a result of the substitution level, and maximum weight gain was estimated at 275.9 g/day at the substitution level of 47.5%.