<b>Protein sources in supplements for grazing sheep</b> - DOI: 10.4025/actascianimsci.v31i1.3875

Abstract

The use of concentrate supplementation and the appropriate protein level in these supplements may be an important tool for sheep production systems in tropical grazing. The objective of this trial was to evaluate different protein sources in concentrate supplements of sheep grazing in irrigated in Tifton 85 grass systems. The treatments were: non supplemented animals (control), soybean meal, urea, cottonseed meal in multiple concentrate supplement (20% of crude protein and 74% of total digestible nutrients). The amount of daily concentrate was 0.180 kg animal^-1. Twenty-eight castrated males were used, all crossbreeds of Santa Inês x Non-genotype with an initial live weight of 28.0 kg. The experimental period was 84 days, divided into six sub-periods of 14 days each. Data were analyzed in a completely randomized design with four treatments and seven replicates. Forage dry matter intake was higher for animals feeding exclusively on pasture. There was no significant difference between treatments for weight gain and carcass characteristics. The protein sources used in concentrate supplement for sheep grazing on Tifton 85 grass were not technically viable, without difference between them. However, the concentrate supplementation showed less advantage than exclusively use of pasture.