Intake and apparent digestibility of rations containing different proportions of Coastcross (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.) hay plus ground soybean grain and sheep eating behaviour
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5433/1679-0359.2006v27n4p685Keywords:
Idle, Feeding, Food evaluation, Rumination, Sheep.Abstract
The aims of this experiment were to determine the average daily intake (ADI) and the apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC) of rations containing two levels of coastcross hay and ground soybean grain, as well as, to study the behavior of sheep fed on these rations. Ten wethers averaging 40.0 kg of live weight were allocated in feeding trial cages for this experiment. A completely randomized design with two treatments (T1= 80% coastcross hay + 20% soybean grain and T2= 60% coast cross hay + 40% soybean grain) and five replicates, were used. The treatments were evaluated under two feeding systems (voluntary and restrict). There were two experimental periods of seven days with fifteen days of previous adaptation each. The animals were fed twice a day with rations containing half of the estimated daily intake. The behaviours studied were times spent eating, ruminating and resting in a five minutes interval observation during twelve hours. There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) between treatments for nutrients ADI but for crude protein and ether extract (EE). The ADC for dry matter (DM), fiber (F) and total carbohydrates (TC) were significantly greater (P < 0.05) for the restrict than for voluntary feeding system. There were no significant differences between treatments for digestibility of the nutrients evaluated. There were no effects of rations with different levels of concentrated on animals’ times spent eating and ruminating. However, time spent resting was significantly greater (P < 0.05) for animals fed on rations containing higher levels of concentrate. In conclusion, sheep fed on 80% of coastcross hay plus 20% of ground soybean grain showed greater dry matter intake of CP and EE. The ADC for DM, F and TC were greater in restrict feeding systems. The concentrate level in the ration just affected the time spent in idle.
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