Protein-energy supplementation for lambs: feed intake, ingestive behavior, rumen parameters and nutrient digestibility

Abstract

The study evaluated the effects of dietary protein-energy supplementation on feed intake, ingestive behavior, rumen parameters and nutrient digestibility in lambs. Four castrated lambs with 31.9 kg mean body weight and fistulated rumen were tested. distributed into latin square design (4x4), four treatments were tested over four periods of time: no supplementation (control) or with supplementation at 8, 16 and 24 g kg -1 body weight. The supplement (soybean meal, soybean hulls, ground corn and minerals) was provided with roughage (Tifton Bermudagrass, Cynodon spp., hay), which was offered ad libitum once a day, at 8h00. In treatments receiving 0 (control), 8, 16 and 24 g kg -1 supplementation, dry matter intake was 685.26, 742.86, 842.51 and 1013.33 g day -1 , crude protein intake was 80.18, 95.98, 118.64, 150.14 g day -1 and metabolizable energy intake 1.55, 1.91, 2.31 and 2.98 g day -1 , respectively. Treatments receiving the highest supplementation levels spent less time with rumination and feeding and rested for longer (P < 0.05). Protein-energy supplementation level did not affect rumen parameters. Average rumen pH was 6.3 and rumen ammonia nitrogen 165 mg dL -1 ; both were affected by sampling time. Supplementation levels until 24 g kg -1 BW improves feed intake and nutrient digestibility linearly and changes ingestive behavior, lowering rumination time without affecting rumen parameters. Key words: Diet. Ammonia nitrogen. Rumen pH. Rumination. Sheep. ResumoObjetivou-se avaliar o efeito da suplementação proteico-energética sobre o consumo, comportamento ingestivo, parâmetros ruminais e digestibilidade de nutrientes em ovinos. Foram utilizados quatro cordeiros castrados, com peso médio de 31,9 kg, fistulados no rúmen. O delineamento foi quadrado latino (4x4), sendo 4 tratamentos e 4 períodos: controle (sem suplementação) e suplementados com 8, 16 e 24 g kg -1 do peso corporal (PC content intake diet, which moves slowly through the gastrointestinal tract, thereby limiting feed intake. Diets containing protein-energy supplements increase total dry matter intake, lowering roughage intake and increasing voluntary nutrient intake, which can improve performance (JOCHIMS et al., 2010). On the other hand, although supplements can attenuate nutritional deficiency arising from poor quality pastures, they may also raise production costs and even make sheep husbandry unfeasible if used in excess (VOLTOLINI et al., 2009). Accordingly, the present study evaluated protein-energy supplementation levels for lambs by assessing their ingestive behavior, rumen parameters and nutrient digestibility.

Ingestive behaviour and performance of feedlot lambs fed saccharine sorghum and corn silages

“…BD 1615 contained the highest level of NDF. The consequent reduction in DMI by animals fed BD 1615 may have led to the observed reduced rumination efficiency owing to its dependence on the amount of feed consumed (Silva et al, 2017). This reduced rumination efficiency cannot be made up for by extending rumination time.…”