Author(s): NOBRE, I. de S.; ARAUJO, G. G. L. de; SANTOS, E. M.; CARVALHO, G. G. P. de; ALBUQUERQUE, I. R. R. de; OLIVEIRA, J. S. de; RIBEIRO, O. L.; TURCO, S. H. N.; GOIS, G. C.; SILVA, T. G. F. da; PERAZZO, A. F.; ZANINE, A. de M.; FERREIRA, D. de J.; SANTOS, F. N. de S.; CAMPOS, F. S.

Summary: The aim of this study was to evaluate the intake, digestibility, water balance and growth performance of lambs receiving diets containing cactus silage under an intermittent water supply. Thirty-six male, uncastrated Santa Inês lambs with an initial weight of 19.8 ± 2.1 kg and age of 6 months were distributed in a 3 × 3 factorial arrangement, with three proportions of cactus pear in the diets (0 (control diet containing Tifton hay), 21% and 42% of dry matter) and three periods of intermittent water supply (0, 24 and 48 h), with four repetitions. Lambs that received diets non-isonitrogenous with cactus silage showed higher intakes of dry matter (p < 0.001), total digestible nutrients (p < 0.001), water excretion via faeces (p < 0.001) and water balance (p < 0.001). Lambs that received diets with cactus silage showed higher digestibility of total carbohydrates, non-fibre carbohydrates (p = 0.005), water intake via food (p < 0.001), total water intake (p < 0.001), water excretion via urine (p < 0.001) and water balance (p < 0.05), when compared to the control diet. Lambs that received diets with cactus silage promoted growth performance (p = 0.001). When using 42% forage cactus silage in place of Tifton hay and water offered at 48 h intervals, intake, digestibility, and performance of feedlot lambs were improved.

Publication year: 2023

Types of publication: Journal article

Unit: Embrapa Semi-arid Region

Keywords: Alimentação suculenta, Animal production, Balanço Hídrico, Cactus pears, Cordeiro, Digestibilidade, Grass silage, Lambs, Nutrição Animal, Palma Forrageira, Produção Animal, Raça Santa Inês, Restrição de água, Silage, Silagem