USE OF SUGAR CANE IN FRESH INTEGRAL MIXTURES FOR LAMBS FEEDING

Abstract

The objective of the study was to assess the effect of different proportions of substitution of Pennisetum purpureum by sugarcane for 60 days, plus poultry litter in fresh integral mixtures, in respect to the voluntary intake and productive and economical parameters of lambs during the growth-fattening stage. Animals of the Pelibuey breed, with four months old and average live weight of 18.96 ± 2.14 kg LW, were used. A total of 48 non castrated male lambs, randomly distributed in four groups were organized in four treatments and fed with different inclusion levels of sugarcane (CÑ20, CÑ40, CÑ60, CÑ80%) in fresh integral mixture with Pennisetum purpureum forage. When including the integral mixture to all the animals, the poultry litter was provided at a rate of 5 g kg LW-1, plus mineral salts and water ad libintum. Results show that the CÑ20 and CÑ40% levels reached the highest index of dry matter intake (3.62 vs. 3.32 % liveweight). However, the square effect of the regression of DM intake confirms the 40 % as maximum value of sugar cane presence in the mixture, and it is where the best integral response is achieved, in terms of voluntary intake, productive parameters and economical profitability.