Lambs fed with increasing levels of grape pomace silage: Effects on productive performance, carcass characteristics, and blood parameters

Abstract Grape pomace in sheep diet can keep the nutritional supply constant, however, due to extensive productive variability, grape residue may present nutritional and toxicological limitations. This study aimed to evaluate the productive performance, carcass characteristics, and blood parameters of lambs submitted to diets with increasing levels of grape pomace silage (GPS) as a partial replacement for whole corn silage. Twenty-four male lambs were fed diets with increasing GPS levels using a 50:50 forage/concentrate ratio. Chemical characterization of the diet, intake, weight gain and feed conversion, carcass characterization, and blood and histological evaluations were performed. A linear negative effect (p