R. Bras. Zootec.01/Sep/2002;31(5):2113-22.
Performance of sheep fed tropical grass hay based diets
DOI: 10.1590/S1516-35982002000800027
A study was conducted to evaluate the performance and the dry matter and nutrients intake in feedlot sheep fed diets with different levels of hray from tropical grasses: elephantgrass, buffelgrass, “milhã-roxa” and “urochloa”grass. Santa Inês hairy sheep (16 males and 16 females; average weight = 26,5 kg). A completely randomized design, with four replicates and two animals per experimental unit, was used. Males and females showed the same response to all treatments. Weight gain was similar for all diets, with an average of 95 g/animal/day. Dry matter and neutral detergent fiber intake were not different among all treatments. However, diets with “milhã-rôxa” hay were associated to the highest crude protein intake. It was concluded that all types of hay can be used for feedlot sheep.
Keywords: animal nutrition; feedlot; nutritive value; weight gain