Farelo de girassol na alimentação de ovinos: produção e comportamento ingestivo

Abstract

The objective was to evaluate nutrient intake, performance and ingestive behavior of feedlot sheep fed diets with different inclusion levels of sunflower meal. The animals (24) were distributed in a randomized complete block design with four treatments (0, 10, 20 and 30% inclusion of sunflower meal in the diet) and six replications during 56 days of confinement for each block. The dry matter intake, neutral detergent fiber, organic matter, feed conversion, feed efficiency and rumination of the neutral detergent fiber increased linearly with the inclusion of the by-product. However, there was a linear reduction in the intake of ethereal extract and non-fibrous carbohydrates. Although there was a change in nutrient intake, the final weight, average daily gain and total live weight gain did not differ with the inclusion of the by-product, since there was no limitation in the dry matter intake. Due to the low physical effectiveness of the fibrous fraction of the sunflower meal, resulting from its processing, no effect was observed in time spent feeding, rumination and idle, feed and rumination efficiencies for dry matter, time and number of chews for ruminal cakes and total chewing. There was a linear increase in feed efficiency and rumination of NDF, reflecting the higher fiber content of the by-product. Despite the changes in nutrient intake and feed conversion, the inclusion of up to 30% of sunflower meal in the Dorper X Santa Inês crossbred lambs diet did not affect productive performance and ingestive behavior.