AMBIENTE RUMINAL DE OVINOS ALIMENTADOS COM BAGAÇO DE CAJU DESIDRATADO EM SUBSTITUIÇÃO A SILAGEM DE SORGO (Rumen environment of sheep fed with cashew bagasse dehydrated in replacement sorghum silage)

The objective was to evaluate the effects of inclusion of cashew bagasse dehydrated in sorghum silage on the physicochemical characteristics of rumen's environment of sheep. They were used four crossbred sheep Santa Ines x Morada Nova fistulated in the rumen, allocated in Latin square design 4x4,with four replacement levels of dehydrated cashew bagasse (BCD) in silage sorghum, consisting of levels of 0%, 8% 16% and 24%, based on the natural material. They evaluated the physicochemical characteristics of rumen fluid (pH, temperature, ammonia nitrogen, methylene blue reduction time, flotation and sedimentation time). The pH did not differ among the three levels (P > 0.05). On temperature there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) on the basis of the BCD replacement levels assessed, however, differed according to the collection times. The ammonia nitrogen significantly different (P < 0.05); (P < 0.01) according to the BCD replacement levels and the rumen fluids ampling times. Methylene blue reduction time and the time for sedimentation and flotation significant differences (P < 0.05); (P < 0.01). The results showed that the substitution of cashew bagasse dehydrated up to 24% on sorghum silage can be used in the feed without compromising the sheep rumen.