Objetivou-se a avaliar a estimativa da digestibilidade aparente (DA) em dietas para ovinos por meio dos indicadores internos MSi (matéria seca indigestível), FDNi (fibra em detergente neutro indigestível) e FDAi (fibra em detergente ácido indigestível) e o indicador externo LIPE®. Utilizou-se oito ovinos machos Santa Inês, castrados, fistulados no rúmen, com peso médio corporal de 50 kg. Os animais receberam dietas a base de raspa de mandioca e do capim elefante maduro (120 dias). Os indicadores internos (MSi, FDNi e FDAi) foram estimados após 288 horas de incubação in situ das amostras de alimentos e fezes. O indicador externo LIPE® foi fornecido na forma de cápsulas na dosagem de 250 mg/animal/dia. Os resultados de DA estimados pelo indicador externo LIPE® diferiram estatisticamente (P0,05) entre o método da coleta total de fezes e os indicadores internos FDNi e FDAi. Os indicadores internos FDNi e FDAi podem ser utilizados em estudos de digestibilidade em ovinos, pois, permitem estimar de forma semelhante ao método da coleta total de fezes.
Aim of study: The objective of this study was to evaluate the intake, digestibility, performance, carcass yield, and meat quality parameters in Santa Inês lambs fed cactus pear and bean meal.
Area of study: NW Brazil
Material and methods: 32 intact Santa Inês male lambs were distributed in a completely randomized design with 4 treatments (diets): control diet (concentrated feed containing corn and soybean meal as energy and protein ingredients); diet containing bean meal as a protein source; diet containing cactus pear as an energy source and; diet containing bean meal and/or cactus pear), using 8 animals per treatment. At the end of the experimental period, lambs were slaughtered with an average body weight of 32.78 kg.
Main results: Animal fed cactus pear and bean meal/cactus pear had a higher intake and digestibility for non-fibrous carbohydrates (p<0.05). Lambs fed cactus pear diet had greater water intake via diet and lower neutral detergent fibre digestibility compared to other evaluated diets (p<0.05). Cactus pear and bean meal/cactus pear diets promoted lower water intake concerning to control and bean meal diets (p<0.05). The lower feed conversion was observed for animals that received control diet (p<0.05). Carcass characteristics and meat quality were not affected for the diets (p>0.05). Bean meal can be used as a source of protein concentrate in combination with cactus pear promoting a reduction in the use of corn and soybean in diets for small ruminants. The use of cactus pear in the diets promoted a water supply to the animals.
Research highlights: Diets containing cactus pear and bean meal/cactus pear provided higher non-fibrous carbohydrates intake.
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