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Productive performance of confined sheep fed mango meal

The effect of inclusion of mango meal to replace corn in sheep diets was evaluated. The variables evaluated were the consumption of nutrients and fibre fractions, weight gain and feed conversion. In addition, a study of the net benefit and rate of return on the total cost of the diets was conducted. Twenty-four lambs Santa Inês, distributed in a completely randomized design with four treatments, consisting of the inclusion levels of mango meal replacing corn (0, 33, 66 and 100%) and six repetitions. There was no effect of the inclusion levels of mango meal on nutrients intake and weight gain of animals. There was a quadratic effect (P<0.05) of inclusion levels of mango meal on feed conversion. The mango meal can replace corn in diets without compromising intake and weight gain, while reducing the cost of feed, indicating the possibility of alternative use as feed for confined sheep.

sheep; intake; weight gain; net benefit


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