Efeito do estresse calórico e do milho expandido em parâmetros digestivos e fisiológicos em ovinos

Abstract

Heat treatment of cereal is becoming an alternative to optimize the use of grains in animal feed. The expansion of corn improves chemical properties, once the starch gelatinization increases the granule degradability by rumen microorganisms, increasing your energy content.This study aimed to evaluate intake and digestibility, ruminal fermentation and physiological responses in animals subjected to different inclusions of expanded corn replacing the corn meal (0, 33, 66 and 100%), under two temperature (comfort and heat stress), checking the bestlevel of inclusion for efficient utilization of the energy content of the diet. The diets affected positively the intake of the fibrous portion of the diets and mineral supplement, but didnt influence the water balance and nitrogen balance of the animals. The concentrations of ammonia and butyric acid declined with the increase of expanded corn. Thermalenvironments have influenced all parameters.