ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate the effects of sunflower meal (SFM) inclusion on the performance, nutrient digestibility, and respirometric parameters in sheep. Twenty-four Dorper × Santa Inês uncastrated males, with an average age of 5 mo and initial body weight (BW) of 27.91±6.0 kg, were distributed in a randomized block design with four treatment diets containing 0, 100, 200, and 300 g of SFM/kg of total dry matter, replacing soybean meal. Intake, weight gain, ingestive behavior, and in vitro digestibility were evaluated according to the SFM inclusion. The respirometric parameters were evaluated in an open-circuit respirometric chamber. There was a quadratic response in dry matter intake expressed according to the SFM inclusion, with minimum points of 90.56 g/kg 0.75 BW for inclusion levels of 96 g of SFM/kg. A linear decrease in the in vivo digestibility of dry matter, neutral detergent fiber, and non-fibrous carbohydrate and in vitro fermentation of dry matter and fibrous carbohydrates was observed in response to SFM inclusion. These results reflect the higher fiber content of the byproduct, which reduced the non-fibrous carbohydrates in the diets. Despite the change in nutrient availability, average daily gain (299 g/day), O 2 consumption (26.24 L/kg 0.75 BW), and CH 4 production (2.25 L/kg 0.75 BW) were not influenced by the SFM inclusion, indicating that changes in the nutritional value of the diet did not affect the animals’ energetic metabolism. Sunflower meal inclusion decreased the digestibility but did not affect the animal gain and the respirometric parameters. The SFM can replace soybean meal in the diet of growing lambs; however, it has a maximum inclusion point of 88 g SFM/kg for feed conversion, which is a necessary factor for evaluating the replacement cost.

Objetivou-se analisar a viabilidade econômica da substituição do feno de Cynodon spp por feno de resíduos da bananicultura na dieta de cordeiros. Foram utilizados 25 cordeiros Santa Inês, com idade média de cinco meses e peso médio inicial de 26,5kg, distribuídos em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com cinco tratamentos (40% de feno Cynodon spp. + 60% concentrado, 20% de feno de folha de bananeira e 20% de feno de Cynodon spp. + 60% concentrado, 40% de feno de folha de bananeira + 60% concentrado, 20% de feno de pseudocaule de bananeira e 20% de feno de Cynodon spp. + 60% concentrado, 40% de feno de pseudocaule de bananeira + 60% concentrado), em cinco repetições. Após 69 dias de experimentação os animais foram abatidos. De posse do custo de cada dieta e do consumo dos animais, foi calculada a viabilidade econômica. O tratamento com 40% de feno de folha da bananeira + 60% concentrado apresentou os melhores indicadores econômicos, baseados na maior receita líquida, na maior taxa de retorno e na maior lucratividade para comercialização dos animais vivos ou abatidos. A inclusão de resíduos da bananicultura na dieta de cordeiros em crescimento aumenta a viabilidade econômica da atividade.

Aimed to analyze the economic feasibility of replacing hay Cynodon spp by hay banana crop residues in diet of lambs. We used 25 Santa Inês lambs, with an average age of five months and an average initial weight of 26.5kg, distributed in a completely randomized design with five treatments (40% hay Cynodon spp. + 60% concentrate, 20% hay banana leaf and 20% of Cynodon spp. + 60% concentrate, 40% of banana leaf hay + 60% concentrate, 20% hay pseudostem of banana and 20% of Cynodon spp. + 60% concentrate, 40% hay pseudostem of banana + 60% concentrate). After 69 days of experiment the animals were slaughtered. Possession of the cost of each diet and consumption of animals was calculated economic feasibility. Treatment with 40% of banana leaf hay + 60% concentrate showed the best economic indicators, based on the highest net income, the higher rate of return to higher profitability and marketing of live animals or slaughtered. The inclusion of banana crop residues in the diet of growing lambs increases the economic viability of the activity.