Consumo de nutrientes e desempenho de cordeiros alimentados com vagem de faveira em substituição ao milho

Abstract

The use of conventional concentrate feeds to supply nutritional deficits is often economically unfeasible for some regions when considering meat production, considering as a good alternative the use of available native forages with good nutritional value, highlighting among others, faveira (Parkia platycephala Benth.). In this context, dry matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber and ether extract intakes were evaluated, as well as nutrient digestibility and carbohydrate fractionation, weight gain and feed efficiency of sheep fed diets containing fava beans. in place of corn. Twenty-eight castrated male sheep, with no defined racial pattern, weaned at 90 days of age with an average initial weight of 18.0 kg, were distributed in a randomized block design, where the initial weight was used as a blocking factor. Four treatments and seven replicates were used, which consisted of replacement levels of fava beans by ground corn based on the dry matter of the diet (0; 33.3; 66.6 and 100.0 %). The inclusion of fava beans in place of corn did not affect nutrient intake or animal performance. This suggests that fava beans could be a new alternative ingredient in the diet of feedlot sheep.