1927
Intake and performance of finishing lambs fed diets with licuri nut (Syagrus coronata) cake
The objective of this study was to determine the impact of including licuri nut (Syagrus coronata) cake in the diet of crossbred Santa Inês finishing lambs on their intake and performance. Forty-four vaccinated and vermifuge-treated non-castrated lambs aged on average six months and with an average weight of 21.2 kg ± 2.7 were fed equal proportions of roughage (Tifton 85 grass hay) and a concentrate mix composed of corn meal, soybean meal, 1% urea, vitamin-mineral premix, and inclusion of licuri cake at the levels of 0, 8, 16 and 24% in substitution of the soybean meal and corn meal in isonitrogenous diets, these levels being the treatments. Animals were confined in individual stalls for 70 days, fed twice daily, and weighed at the beginning and end of the experiment to calculate weight gain and feed conversion. Samples of feed and orts were collected to determine the intakes of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), non-fibrous carbohydrates (NFC) and total digestible nutrients (TDN). The data were adjusted to regression analysis, using the SAS 9.1 (2004) statistical software. The increase in the inclusion level of licuri cake led to a linear decrease in DM intake (Ŷ = ‒21.352 X + 1312; P<0.001), with reduction of 39% between the level with 0 and 24% of cake, respectively. Probably this reduction may be was associated with the elevation in NDF content, thereby demonstrating a considerable elevation in ADF representing the accrual in the lignin fraction, linked to decrease in NFC. The decrease in the intakes of CP, NFC and TDN is a consequence of the drop in DM intake. On the other hand, EE intake was quadratically affected (Ŷ = ‒ 0.0551 X2 + 1.4271 X + 31.967; P<0.05), increasing until addition of 12.95% of licuri cake, and reducing from this point. The average daily gain decreased linearly (Ŷ= ‒0.004x + 0.218; P<0.0001) as the licuri cake was added. This decrease is mainly related to the drop in CP and TDN intakes. Feed conversion was not affected by the proposed levels. Including licuri cake reduces the intake and performance of the animals and the decision of whether or not to use it in the feeding of lambs will depend on the cost and economic return.
Keywords: intake, sheep, weight gain