title: Spineless cactus as a replacement for sugarcane in the diets of finishing lambs.
abstract: The effects of replacement of sugarcane by spineless cactus (0, 33, 66, and 100 % on dry matter (DM) basis) were evaluated on intake, digestibility of nutrients, ingestive behavior, and performance of finishing lambs. Thirty-six non-castrated Santa Ines lambs at 4 months of age and an initial body weight of 22 ± 2.3 kg were assigned in a randomized block design. A quadratic effect was found for intake of DM, organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and digestible organic matter (DOM), with maximum values of 1.31, 1.19, 0.219, 0.358, and 0.845 g/day estimated with 42.5, 38.5, 38.8, 21.3, and 44.9 % replacement level, respectively. The digestibility of DM, OM, CP, and EE increased linearly; however, there was a quadratic effect on NDF digestibility with maximum value estimated of 500 g/kg with 64.2 % replacement level. Rumination time, total chewing, and rumination efficiency decreased linearly with the replacement levels; however, idle time increased linearly. A quadratic effect was found for final weight, body weight gain, and total weight gain with maximum values estimated of 38.6 kg, 0.232 kg/day, and 16.2 kg with 39.1, 38.2, and 40.4 % replacing levels. The replacement of 49.5 % sugarcane by spineless cactus can be recommended as optimal level, and problems related to intake, digestibility, and performance are concentrated outside that level.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil. jupaula.oliv@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Juliana Paula Felipe
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Andrade Ferreira
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Adryanne Marjorie Souza Vitor
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Caroline Cerqueira
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: de Melo
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ida Barbosa
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: de Andrade
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Juraci Marcos Alves
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Suassuna
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Leonardo José Assis
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: de Barros
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tobias Tobit
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: de Barros Melo
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Janaina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: de Lima Silva
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis*; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D001835:Body Weight; D029421:Cactaceae; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary*; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D004063:Digestion; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005502:Food; D007501:Iron / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D031786:Saccharum; D012756:Sheep; D034561:Sheep, Domestic; D013696:Temperature; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014508:Urea / Q000032:analysis; D015430:Weight Gain
chemical_list: D004043:Dietary Fiber; D014508:Urea; D007501:Iron; D002118:Calcium
keywords: Behavior; Intake; Performance; Roughage; Sheep breeding