Intake, total apparent digestibility, and microbial efficiency of sheep fed pineapple waste silage in different planes of nutrition

Abstract

The study aimed to nutritionally evaluate the silage of pineapple crop waste in sheep feeding in different planes of nutrition (L). We used eight growing sheep and four male castrated adults, in individual metabolic cages distributed in a switchback design with two treatments and three periods. The treatments were the different planes of nutrition: L = MEI⁄M m , MEI⁄1.5M m , and MEI⁄2.5M m , in which L = MEI/M m , MEI is the energy amount of the feed intake and M m is the maintenance. We performed a digestibility trial of the diet composed of silage of pineapple crop waste, ground corn, and soybean meal. Data were analyzed using regression analysis. Nutrient intake behaved linearly according to the increase in the L, except for organic matter, which presented a quadratic behavior. Planes of nutrition did not affect protein and fiber digestible fractions. However, digestible fractions of fat and non-fibrous carbohydrates (NFC) increased with L. The indigestible fractions displayed a quadratic behavior with an increase in the L. Regarding the microbial synthesis efficiency, we observed a linear decrease with the increase in L. Thus, the silage of pineapple crop waste is a feed very rich in NFC. Besides, silage of pineapple crop waste presented a good alternative roughage during forage shortages. Diet inclusion of 2.5x the maintenance does not compromise the sheep performance.

Pineapple waste in animal feed: A review of nutritional potential, impact and prospects

“…Meanwhile, the silage produced from pineapple fruit residue (PFR) can promote milk production in dairy ruminants (Gowda et al, 2015). The pineapple crop waste silage is a suitable alternative for cattle (Mello et al, 2021) and sheep diets (Cordeiro et al, 2022). Table 1 describes other utilisation of pineapple waste and the study outcomes.…”

“…As pineapple waste contains a substantial amount of fibre, the recommended inclusion level for effective feed utilization and nutrient digestibility varies between ruminants and non-ruminants. In ruminants, no adverse effects were reported on nutrient utilization [dry matter (DM), CP, NDF and ADF] when sheep were fed with pineapple waste silage (Cordeiro et al, 2022), while Suksathit et al (2011) observed improved digestibility (DM, OM, CP, NDF, and ADF) when cattle consumed ensiled pineapple waste diet. The positive outcomes may be contributed by the shorter fibrous particles in pineapple waste that increase the feed passage rate and improve digestibility (Guthrie & Wagner, 1988) compared to the conventional feedstuff, such as hay and Napier grass.…”