<strong>Intake and apparent digestibility of fibrous fractions of forage sorghum silage (<em>Sorghum bicolor</em> [L.] moench) in sheep</strong> - DOI: 10.4025/actascianimsci.v30i3.5716

Abstract

This research aimed to evaluate the effect of four concentrate levels (0%, 15%, 30% and 45%), in replacement of forage sorghum silage, on voluntary intake and apparent digestibility of dry matter (DM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF). The experimental design was completely randomized, with four treatments and four repetitions. The data was analyzed using SAS software. The following results were obtained with 0, 15, 30 and 45% of concentrate, respectively: Observed DM intake levels (g day^-1 and % of live weight) were 591.79 and 2.6, 709.60 and 3.0, 781.56 and 3.3, and 798.03 and 3.36. For organic matter (OM), the intake levels were 553.60, 664.47, 735.86, and 755.10 g day-1. NDF intake levels (g day^-1) were 413.20, 377.62, 365.30, and 345.40; for ADF, they were 242.38, 220.05, 204.91, and 190.18 g day-1. The study recorded DM digestibility coefficients of 8.32, 61.96, 68.12, and 69.77%; and OM digestibility coefficients of 50.03, 62.22, 69.12, and 70.50%. NDF digestibility coefficients were 56.68, 46.94, 39.53, and 30.94; and ADF digestibility coefficients were 47.02, 42.62, 34.84, and 31.14%. Tannin levels were 1.08, 0.96, 0.75, and 0.65%. The use of 30-45% concentrate in forage sorghum silage provides greater availability of dry matter in the forage and an increase in the nutritional value of the diet, promoting a rise in animal productivity.