The experiment was carried out to evaluate increasing crude protein (CP) levels in drylot lambs diet, and its effects on animal performance. Thirty two tricross lambs (1/2 Texel + ¼ Bergamácia + ¼ Corriedale), being 16 males and 16 females, with average age 5 months and live weight 30 kg, were fed for 57 days, with isoenergetic diets (72% TDN), but with different protein levels (12, 16, 20 and 24% PB). The animals were identified, weighted and distributed in the four treatments. The lambs were kept underroof in individual pens with lathing and a suspended floor. The studied parameters were weight daily gain, dry matter intake, feed efficiency, and cost per kilogram of carcass. The use of diets with different protein levels in lamb termination, showed a positive linear effect for weight daily gain and negative feed efficiency. It was verified that the use of diets with increasing protein levels did not influence the dry matter intake of the lambs. It was concluded that the diets between 12 and 24% crude protein were economical for finishing lambs in drylot, however, the largest return were gotten with the ration contends 12% CP. There were no sex effects for the analyzed parameters.
cost carcass kilogram; dry matter intake; feed efficiency; protein; sheep; weight gain
