Performance and carcass characteristics of lambs fed diets with increasing levels of Mimosa tenuiflora (Willd.) hay replacing Buffel grass hay.

Bandeira, Paulo; Filho, José; Azevêdo Silva, Aderbal; Cezar, Marcílio; Bakke, Olaf; Silva, Uilma; Borburema, Jucileide; Bezerra, Leilson

This study evaluated the performance and carcass characteristics of lambs fed diets with increasing levels of Mimosa tenuiflora (Willd.) hay replacing Buffel grass ( Cenchrus ciliaris). Twenty-eight Santa Inês male lambs with an average body weight (BW) of 20.3 ± 1.49 kg(mean ± SD) were allocated in individual stalls and distributed in a completely random design with four treatments (0, 20, 40, and 60 g/100 g total DM M. tenuiflora hay replacing Buffel grass hay in diet) with seven replications. M. tenuiflora hay at the level of 20% dry matter (DM) total replacing Buffel grass hay increased final weight ( P = 0.006), total weight gain ( P < 0.001), average daily weight gain (ADWG; P < 0.001), DM intake ( P < 0.001), and feed efficiency ( P < 0.001). Intake of crude protein, NDF, ADF, ash, ether extract, total and non-fibrous carbohydrates, and total digestible nutrients presented a positive quadratic effect with M. tenuiflora hay replacing Buffel grass hay and 40 g/100 g total DM level presented greater intake. There were positive quadratic effects by M. tenuiflora hay inclusion at 20 g/100 g total DM level on slaughtering weight ( P = 0.005), hot carcass weight ( P = 0.002), cold carcass weight ( P = 0.002), empty body weight ( P = 0.001), hot carcass yield ( P = 0.002), cold carcass yield ( P = 0.003), and increase linear on biological yield ( P = 0.003). There was no influence on cooling weight loss ( P = 0.284). M. tenuiflora hay may be included in lamb diets at amounts up to 20 g/100 g total DM substitution of Buffel grass hay because increase in the nutrients intake, growth performance, and carcass characteristics.

CATTLE carcasses; LAMBS; SHEEP feeding; MIMOSA; BUFFELGRASS; HAY; DRY matter in animal nutrition

Tropical Animal Health & Production, 2017, Vol 49, Issue 5, p1001

0049-4747

Academic Journal

10.1007/s11250-017-1291-y