Effect of the level of protein supplementation with chicken manure and soy flour on the growth-fattening of weaning lambs fed with low quality hay

Abstract

The effect of a protein supplement including poultry dung and soybean meal at different levels (0; 30; 45; 60 and

75 %) in a 50:46 true protein: non-protein nitrogen rate is discussed. This rate 100 % covered raw protein require- ments (N x 6,25) for a 120 g/animal/day gain, but a control animal was fed only with hay. Forty Creole sheep with a

12 kg liveweight each were sampled according to a completely randomized design. All animals were fed with grassy hay (Cynodon dactylon), water, and mineral salts. Food was distributed into two time schedules at 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Liveweight gains were 82,6; 85,2; 93,7 and 99,2 g/animal/day, respectively. A linear weight increase was registered

due to the protein supplement increase in animal diet. A similar behavior was observed in dry matter consumption (67,9; 78,12; 88,13 and 95,52 g/kg liveweight0,75). The highest hay consumption corresponded to the 45 % level with a 45,52 g/kg liveweight0,75  value. No other differences were seen. The highest consumption of the protein supple- ment, dry matter, raw protein, metabolcal energy, fiber, easily degraded carbohydrates, as well as the best consump- tion index (0,58) were registered at the 75 % level. Two animal deaths and weight losses made the test for every animal stop. As a conclusion, 12 kg weight is not recommended to initiate this kind of fattening treatment because daily average weight values and retrospective analysis show higher consumption levels in relation to the require- ments, and gains did not reach the expected values. However, the protein supplement improved growing-fattening sheep behavior, though it was impossible to increase hay consumption due to its fibrous residual.