ABSTRACT
This study aimed to evaluate sweet potato feed as an alternative energy supplement for ovine. A latin-square design was used to assess the effects of feeding the animals 0, 0.5, 1 and 1.5% their body weight in sweet potato as well as ryegrass hay (Lolium multiflorum) twice daily, mineral salt and water ad libitum. During this study 8 males were housed in metabolic cages with urine and feces collectors. Each round of experimentation consisted of 14 days adaptation followed by 5 days evaluating the diet, left-overs, feces, and urine to determine intake, digestibility, and nitrogen retention. The results show a linear increase in intake of ryegrass hay, FDN, DM and OM because of the increasing supplementation levels. Similarly, we observed a linear increase in DM and OM intake, as well as in the OM digestibility. Additionally, BP digestibility decreased considering nitrogen excretion. In conclusion, sweet potato feed is a viable alternative for ovine receiving ryegrass hay since it increased DM and OM digestibility, albeit reducing NDF and BP digestibility.
Keywords:
nutrition; ruminants; energy