This experiment was carried out with the objectives of determining the daily average intake (DAI), apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC) of oat hay and pea nutrients and to evaluate the nitrogen balance in sheep. Ten wethers with average weight of 36.64 kg, alloted to suitable cages, were used. A completely randomized design with two treatments (T1= 80% oat hay + 20% pea and T2= 60% oat hay + 40% pea) and five replicates, was used. The treatments were evaluated under two feeding systems (voluntary and restrict). Daily average intake of dry matter (DM) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) did not differ between treatments.Daily average intake of acid detergent fiber (ADF) and crude fiber (CF) were higher for treatment one. Animals submmitted to voluntary intake, showed higher nutrients average intake than the ones fed diet with 60% oat hay + 40% pea. There was no significant difference between both feeding systems to ADC of DM, nitrogen free extract (NFE) and crude protein (CP). However, ADC of organic matter (OM), ADF, NDF and CF were higher in restrict intake. There was higher ADC of DM, NFE, OM and CP in treatment two and there was no differences between treatments to ADC and NDF and CF.
apparent digestibility; restrict intake; ruminant; voluntary intake
