Behavior of sheep fed different sequences of ingredients in a spineless cactus (Nopalea cochenillifera Salm-Dyck) based-diet

• Published in: Revista brasileira de saúde e produção animal 2014-03, Vol.15 (1), p.74-82
• Main Authors: Fotius, Anna Christine Alencar, Ferreira, Marcelo de Andrade, Bispo, Safira Valença, Véras, Antônia Sherlânea Chaves, Salla, Luciane Elisete, Chagas, Juana Catarina
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: AGRONOMY
• ISSN: 1519-9940; 1519-9940
• DOI: 10.1590/S1519-99402014000100011

The purpose of this experiment was to evaluate the ingestive behavior of sheep fed diets containing different sequences of ingredients of a spineless cactus based diet because of the paucity of available information regarding the best method of feeding, especially in relation to the use of spineless cactus. The observed variables were daily time of eating, ruminating and idling. Five sheep were distributed into a 5 × 5 Latin Square with five treatments, five animals and five periods, the treatments 1 - (TMR, total mixed ration) at 7:00 and 15:00h; 2 - (C, concentrate) at 7:00h, (SC, spineless cactus) at 8:00 h, (C) at 15:00h and (TGH, tifton grass hay) at 16:00h; 3 - (C) at 7:00h, (TGH) at 8:00h, (C) at 15:00h and (SC) at 16:00h; 4 - (SC) at 7:00h, (C) at 8:00h, (TGH) at 15:00 and (C) at 16:00h and 5 - (TGH) at 7:00h, (C) at 8:00h, (SC) at 15:00h and (C) at 16:00h. No treatment effect on feeding activities (hour/day) in time total daily, but when activities were divided into periods, the sheep in sequence 3: concentrate/ hay/ concentrate/spineless cactus spent a longer time eating within the period from 7:00 to 11:00h than the sheep in sequences 1: total mixed ration (TMR) and 2: concentrate/ spineless cactus/ concentrate /hay. The digestibility of dry matter and matter organic was greater for concentrate/ spineless cactus/ concentrate/ hay and spineless cactus/ concentrate/ hay/ concentrate being recommended the use of the same as feeding strategy. Objetivou-se com este estudo avaliar o comportamento ingestivo de ovinos alimentados com dietas contendo diferentes sequências de ingredientes a base de palma forrageira, devido à escassez de informações disponíveis sobre o melhor método de alimentação, especialmente ao uso da palma forrageira. As variáveis observadas foram tempo diário de ingestão, ruminação e ócio. Cinco ovinos foram distribuídos em um quadrado latino 5 × 5, com cinco tratamentos, cinco animais e cinco períodos, sendo os tratamentos: 1 - (ração totalmente misturada- TMR) às 7:00 e às 15:00h; 2 - (concentrado- C) às 7:00h, (palma forrageira- PF) às 8:00h, (C) às 15:00h e (feno de capim tifton- FCT) às 16:00h; 3 - (C) às 7:00h, (FCT) às 8:00h, (C) às 15:00h e (PF) às 16:00h; 4 - (PF) às 7:00h, (C) às 8:00h, (FCT) às 15:00 e (C) às 16:00h e 5 - (FCT) às 7:00h, (C) às 8:00h, (PF) às 15:00h e (C) às 16:00h. Não houve efeito de tratamento sobre as atividades de alimentação (horas/dia) no total de tempo diário. Porém quando as atividades foram divid