Abstract

EZEQUIEL, Jane Maria Bertocco et al. Apparent digestibility of energy and fiber of sheep diets containing urea, starea or cottonseed meal. Rev. Bras. Zootec. [online]. 2001, vol.30, n.1, pp. 231-235. ISSN 1806-9290.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1516-35982001000100032.

This research was conducted to evaluate the energy and the fiber digestibility of diets containing urea, starea and cottonseed meal as nitrogen sources and corn silage as forage. Twenty-four lambs averaging 11 months old and initial 31 kg LW and total feces collection method were used. Dry matter intake was 64.1, 68.8 and 71.4 g /kg PV^.75 /day and the energy, NDF and CF digestibilities were 63.0, 67.7 and 64.4%, 39.6, 55.7 and 50.0%, 47.0, 49.3 and 53.4%, for the diets with urea, starea and cottonseed meal, respectively. The average weights gain were 278.5, 348.0 and 293.7 g/anim./day, in the same above sequence. The use of starea would be more adequate in relation to urea and cottonseed meal in diets with corn silage as forage for lambs.

Keywords : apparent digestibility; cottonseed meal; energy; NDF; starea; urea.