Author(s): LIMA, J. A. de; GAVIOLI, I. L.; BARBOSA, C. M. P.; BERNDT, A.; GIMENES, F. M. de; PARO PAZ, C. C. de; CUNHA, E. A. DA

Summary: The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of sheep fed with diets consisting of different proportions of soybean silage and sugarcane tip silage. Twenty four lambs from Morada Nova breed were used, with an average age of 75 days and average weight of 16.98±2.62kg. The following diets were evaluated: T1 = 20% sugarcane tops silage + 80% concentrate, T2 = 20% sugarcane tops silage + 30% soybean silage + 50% concentrate, T3 = 20% sugarcane tops silage + 60% soybean silage + 20% concentrate. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with eight repetitions and each animal was a repetition. It was evaluated the intake of dry matter, organic matter, ash, crude protein, ether extract, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, weight gain, and feed conversion ratio and efficiency. The total weight gain, average daily gain, feed conversion ratio and efficiency were similar, with average values of 7.9kg animal-1, 133.3g animal-1 day-1, 6.2 and 0.17, respectively. Diets based on sugarcane tops silage enriched with soybean silage + concentrate provide greater nutrient intake in relation to diet composed only of sugarcane tops silage + concentrate. Sugarcane tops silage supplemented with protein concentrate or enriched with soybean silage with lower inclusion of concentrate resulted in similar weight gains and feed conversion efficiency.

Publication year: 2013

Types of publication: Journal article

Unit: Embrapa Southeastern Livestock

Keywords: Feed conversation, Glycine Max, Lamb, Saccharum Officinarum