Water intake and ingestive behavior of sheep fed diets based on silages of cactus pear and tropical forages.
Water intake and ingestive behavior of sheep fed diets based on silages of cactus pear and tropical forages.
Author(s): SILVA, T. S.; ARAUJO, G. G. L. de; SANTOS, E. M.; OLIVEIRA, J. S. de; CAMPOS, F. S.; GODOI, P. F. A.; GOIS, G. C.; PERAZZO, A. F.; RIBEIRO, O. L.; TURCO, S. H. N.
Summary: The objective was to evaluate the water intake and ingestive behavior of sheep fed diets containing silages of cactus pear combined with tropical forages. Forty sheep without defined breed, intact, with initial average weight of 22.65 ± 1.01 kg were distributed in a completely randomized design with 5 treatments and 8 replications. The experimental diets consisted of cactus pear silage (CPS), cactus pear + buffel grass silage (CPBS), cactus pear + gliricidia silage (CPGS), cactus pear + pornunça silage (CPPS), and corn silage (CS). CPGS provided higher water intake via food, total water intake, metabolic water, and excretion via feces and urine (P < 0.05). Animals that received diets containing CS showed higher water intake via drinking fountain, less efficient feeding and rumination of dry matter, less efficient rumination of neutral detergent fiber, grams of dry matter per cud, grams of neutral detergent fiber per cud, and the shortest average time spent in chewing per cud (P < 0.05). CPGS, CPPS, and CS provided longer times for rumination and numbers of cuds per day (P < 0.05). CPS showed animals spending more time in idleness, lower quantity of cuds per minute, higher concentration of crystals in urine, with a higher frequency of ammonia-magnesium phosphate and calcium oxalate. Silages based on cactus pear are an alternative to the supply of water via food for sheep in semi-arid.
Publication year: 2021
Types of publication: Journal article
Unit: Embrapa Semi-arid Region
Keywords: Consumo de água, Nutrição Animal, Opuntia stricta, Ovino, Palma Forrageira, Pastagem, Região semiárida, Sheep
Observation
Some of Embrapa's publications are published as ePub files. To read them, use or download one of the following free software options to your computer or mobile device. Android: Google Play Books; IOS: iBooks; Windows and Linux: Calibre.
Access other publications
Access the Agricultural Research Database (BDPA) to consult Embrapa's full library collection and records.
Visit Embrapa Bookstore to purchase books and other publications sold by Embrapa.