Nutrient intake and apparent digestibility coefficient of lambs fed with coffee husk in replacement of oat hay

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of replacing oat hay with coffee husk in the diet of lambs on the intake and apparent digestibility of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), non-fiber carbohydrate (NFC), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF). The experimental design was 4×4 Latin square with four levels of replacement of oat hay with coffee husk (0, 7.5, 15, and 22.5%) with four individually housed Texel sheep. Intake and apparent digestibility coefficients were measured at four periods of 12 days. All orts and feces were collected, weighed, homogenized, and sampled. The use of coffee husk at up to 22.5% of the total DM in the diet of lambs improved the intake of nutrients. Except for NDF, no significant differences were observed for the apparent digestibility of other parameters (DM, OM, CP, EE, NFC, and the ADF). Coffee husk can be included at up to 22.5% of total dry matter in diets with 30% roughage and 70% concentrate, being a good alternative to reduce feed costs in lamb production.

Intake and apparent nutrient digestibility, ruminal parameters, and nitrogen balance of lambs fed with corn and forage-free diets with sodium bicarbonate

“…The experimental design utilized was a 4×4 Latin square, with four treatments, four periods, and four animals (REGO et al, 2019). The experiment lasted 84 days, with four periods that were 21 days each.…”

Use of pulp and husk of coffee in animal feed

“…On the other hand, Pires et al (2009) observed that by adding 15% coffee hulls to elephant grass silage in diets for lambs composed of 60% forage and 40% concentrate, lambs feeding behavior was modified increasing DM intake; while substituting up to 22.5% of coffee hulls for oat hay in diets for lambs composed of 30% forage and 70% concentrate, did not affect the digestibility of nutrients and became an alternative to reduce production costs (Rego et al, 2019). Souza et al (2004) mentioned that the use of up to 25% of coffee husks in substitution of maize in the diet of adult sheep did not affect DM intake or nutrient digestibility and resulted in an alternative feed.…”