Palma miúda e orelha de elefante mexicana em dietas para cordeiros de dois grupamentos genéticos

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the intake and apparent digestibility of the dry matter and nutrients, the ingestive behavior and the performance of sheep of two genetic groups (Soinga and ½ Santa Inês x ½ Soinga) fed with forage palm genotypes resistant to Cochineal carmine (Miúda and Mexican Elephant Ear). Twenty - eight sheep were used, 14 Soingas and 14 ½ Santa Inês x ½ Soinga with initial mean weight of 17.4 ± 1.58 kg, randomly distributed in a completely randomized design in a 2x2 factorial design. The study lasted 102 days, with the first 30 days for adaptation of the animals to the facilities, diet and routine management, and 72 days of observation and collection for performance evaluation. There was no significant interaction between cactus species and genetic groups for the consumption of dry matter and nutrients. Ingestion of DM, OM, OMD, CP, NDF, CNF and TDN by dietary components in kg/day was not affected by experimental diets (1.009, 0.910, 0.666, 0.139, 0.298, 0.557 and 0.732, respectively). The intake of dry matter and nutrients and feed conversion were not different between the genetic groups. The total digestibility of DM, OM, CP and NFC was higher when the animals consumed the Mexican Elephant Ear cactus, there was no interaction for nutrients digestibility between the cactus species and the genetic groups. There was no interaction between the cactus species and the genetic groups for the behavioral variables studied. There was no interaction between the studied cactus species and the genetic groups for the average daily weight gain, 0.133 kg/day. The digestibility of the Mexican Elephant Ear was higher than Miúda. The genetic groups Soinga and ½ Santa Inês x ½ Soinga had similar performance when fed with the different cactus species, and the Nopalea cochenillifera and the Opuntia stricta can be used in the diet for lambs in confinement.