title: Effect of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) hay inclusion in the diets of sheep.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of replacing Tifton-85 hay (0, 20, 40, 60 and 80 % on a dry matter basis) with water hyacinth hay (Eichhornia crassipes) on intake and digestibility of nutrients, feeding behaviour, rumen and blood parameters of sheep. Five uncastrated male sheep, cannulated in the rumen, with an average body weight of 40 kg were assigned in a 5 × 5 Latin square design. The water hyacinth hay contained 870 g/kg dry matter (DM), 159 g/kg crude protein (CP), 547 g/kg neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and 461 g/kg total digestible nutrients (TDN). The DM intake and digestibility of NDF and non-fibre carbohydrates (NFC) were linearly reduced by replacing the Tifton-85 hay with water hyacinth hay. Similarly, there was a linear reduction of rumination time and efficiencies of feeding and rumination of DM and NDF. The concentrations of urea, glucose, AST and GGT in blood plasma were not changed by replacing the Tifton-85 hay with water hyacinth hay. Although water hyacinth hay reduced the intake and digestibility of some nutrients, the Tifton-85 hay replacement could be economically advantageous for sheep feeding.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Dom Manoel de Medeiros Street, s/n, Dois Irmãos, 52171-900, Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gustavo Araújo
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: de Vasconcelos
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Academic Unit of Garanhuns, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Bom Pastor Avenue, s/n, Boa Vista, 55292-270, Garanhuns, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Robson Magno Liberal
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Véras
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Dom Manoel de Medeiros Street, s/n, Dois Irmãos, 52171-900, Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Janaina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: de Lima Silva
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Dom Manoel de Medeiros Street, s/n, Dois Irmãos, 52171-900, Recife, PE, Brazil. danbarrc@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Daniel Barros
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Cardoso
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Dom Manoel de Medeiros Street, s/n, Dois Irmãos, 52171-900, Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: de Castro Soares
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Dom Manoel de Medeiros Street, s/n, Dois Irmãos, 52171-900, Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Nadja Nara Gomes
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: de Morais
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Dom Manoel de Medeiros Street, s/n, Dois Irmãos, 52171-900, Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Andresa Cristina
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Souza
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis*; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary*; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000378:metabolism; D004063:Digestion; D031806:Eichhornia; D008297:Male; D012417:Rumen / Q000378:metabolism; D012756:Sheep / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Alternative feed; Aquatic plant; Ingestive behaviour; Metabolic profile; Rumen pH