Silagens de diferentes genótipos de Pennisetum na alimentação de ovinos

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the intake and digestibility of nutrients, feeding behavior, weight gain, carcass yield and meat cuts of sheep fed different silages Pennisetum purpureum Schum (Mott, IRI-381, Elephant B). We used 24 sheep males, with an average initial weight of 20 ± 2 kg were housed in individual stalls and distributed in randomized blocks, with three treatments and eight replications. Silages made up 50% of the diet of animals, based on dry matter. Consumption was calculated as the difference between supplied and leftover food, and the relationship between weight gain and food consumption was calculated feed conversion. Apparent digestibility of nutrients was calculated using as an indicator the indigestible dry matter production estimate for fecal dry matter. Feeding behavior was assessed based on observations of behavior every ten minutes during a 24 hour period. Were calculated yield of carcass and meat cuts, as well as losses from fasting to slaughter and process cooling carcass. Data were subjected to analysis of variance and means were compared by Tukey test at 5% probability. There was no influence of genotype used for making silage used in diets on intake and apparent digestibility of nutrients, feeding behavior, weight gain, carcass yield and meat cuts. All three genotypes used in the study can compose sheep diets without variation in the results of weight gain and carcass and commercial cuts.