Consumo, digestibilidade dos nutrientes e parâmetros ruminais em ovinos alimentados com rações contendo grão seco de destilaria com solúveis

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of inclusion of 0%, 8%, 16% and 24% distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) in the diet of sheep on the intake and total digestibility coefficient (DC) of nutrients and ruminal parameters. Four sheep with a mean body weight (BW) of 23.5 ± 1.5 kg were randomly assigned in a Latin square design. The animals were housed in metabolic cages and received two meals per day. The nutrient intake and DC data were submitted to analysis of variance and the differences observed were tested using regression equations at a 5% probability. For pH and ammoniacal nitrogen (N-NH3) of the rumen fluid, statistical analysis was performed considering the subdivision of the plot and evaluation times after feeding of the animals. The inclusion of 0%, 8%, 16% and 24% DDGC in the sheep diet did not alter (P>0.05) the intake of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, neutral/acid detergent fiber, or total carbohydrates expressed as g/animal/day, g/kg BW0.75 and %BW. However, the inclusion of DDGS changed ether extract and nonfibrous carbohydrate (NFC) intake, expressed as g/animal/day and g/kg BW0.75, in a quadratic manner (P 0.05) between the different inclusion levels of DDGS in the diet. However, a difference (P 0.05) rumen fluid N-NH3 concentration, but exerted a quadratic effect (P<0.05) over time for all experimental diets. The inclusion of 24% DDGS does not alter nutrient intake or DC, except for NFS, and has no influence on ruminal parameters.