Consumption and apparent digestibility of the dry matter, organic matter and crude protein of the Pueraria phaseoloides (Roxb.) Benth for ovines

Abstract

This work was realized in the Animal Research Unit "Senator Alvaro Adolpho" in the Embrapa Eastern Amazon, in Belem, Para State, to evaluate the effect of four levels (100%, 75%, 50% and 25%) of the leguminous Pueraria phaseoloides (Roxb.) Benth, on substitution to the Brachiaria humidicola, on the voluntary consumption and apparent digestibility of the dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM) and crude protein (CP). It was realized a metabolic assay, of 21 days having been 14 days of adaptation to experimental dietary and seven days of collected, was used sixteen sheep, of ten months and 28 (± 2.44) average of kg, in a completely randomized experimental design, with four treatments and four repetitions. The data was analyzed by software SAS. The use of the Pueraria phaseoloides leguminous, provides to greater availability of dry substance in the fodder plant and rise of the nutritional value, mainly, protein in the diet, promoting increase of the animal productivity. Levels of substitution of P. Phaseoloides, around 100%, make possible greater consumption of the dry matter, organic matter, CP.