Twenty crossbred lambs (21.6 ± 3.5 kg BW) were used in a completely randomised design to determine the effects of babassu mesocarp flour (BMF) on performance and ingestive behaviour. The treatments were defined by the increase in concentrations (0, 10, 20 or 30%, in DM basis) of BMF in the diet. When significant treatments effects were found, orthogonal polynomials for treatment responses were determined by linear and quadratic responses (p < .05). To determine the in situ ruminal degradability of the diets used in performance trial, one rumen-fistulated Santa Inês male sheep (63 kg BW) was used in a completely randomised design in a split splot arrangement with three replications (three periods of incubation) in times 3, 6, 24 and 72 h. Data from potential degradability (PD), dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) degradability for diets and the incubation time were compared by t-test (p < .05). Negative quadratic effect was observed upon nutrients intake, except for neutral detergent fiber (NDF) intake. The average daily gain, body condition score, feeding efficiency of DM and time spent in feeding decreased linearly with BMF addition. The BMF decreased the soluble fraction (a) potentially degradable fraction (b) PD, effective degradability of DM and CP and the NDF degradability. The addition of BMF in diets of sheep had negative effects on performance, feed efficiency of DM and degradability of DM, CP and NDF. However, the BMF can be used in diets, during the conventional grains off-season, at concentration up to 10.5% as alternative feed. HIGHLIGHTS The mesocarp produced from industrialization of the babassu coconut has a great content of fiber and lignin. The great content of fiber associated to decrease in degradation of fiber and potential degradability in DM and CP reduced the performance of lambs. Although the reduction of the performance, BMF can partially replace the corn in diets of lambs in periods that the price of this ingredient is great.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect on intake, apparent digestibility, and ruminal constituents of sheep in response to the addition of increasing levels of babassu mesocarp flour (BMF) to the diet. Twenty crossbred sheep (29.17 ± 2.23 kg) were used in a randomized complete block design. Lambs were confined for 21 days, with 16 days for diet adaptation and 5 days for data collection, in which they were fed an isonitrogenous diet (16.5 ± 0.2 CP, DM basis) containing 70% of concentrate and 30% (DM basis) of Tifton 85 hay. Increasing levels of BMF were 0, 10, 20, and 30% (DM basis). There was a quadratic effect (P < 0.05) on the DM intake, nutrients intake, and digestibility of CP and NFC. The digestibility of DM, OM, TC, and NDF decreased linearly, while EE digestibility increased linearly with increasing levels of BMF. The high NDF content presented in the chemical composition of the babassu mesocarp flour ranked the same as fibrous food, which can limit the inclusion in the diet of high production animals. So, babassu mesocarp flour is an alternative for energy source in lambs feed and can be added at levels up to 10%.
Distribuição da carne de búfalos (Bubalus bubalis) no Município de São Luís-MA Distribution of buffalo meat (Bubalus bubalis) in the Municipality of São Luís-MA
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