The effect of ammonization of elephant grass and the partial substitution of the standard concentrate based on corn and soybean meal by concentrates containing cocoa meal or palm cake on sheep performance was evaluated. A total of 18 Santa Inês male sheep, with average 22.6 kg BW, was allotted to a completely randomized design in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangment with three replications. The experimental period consisted of 77 days, with 14 days for adaptation and three periods of 21 days for data collection. The diets constituted of 60% forage (elephant grass no treated or treated with urea) and 40% concentrate. Three concentrates were used, one based on corn and soybean meal, other containing corn, soybean meal and cocoa meal, and another containing corn, soybean meal and palm cake. The dry matter intakes in %BW were lower in the concentrate containing palm cake, however there was no difference between the standard and cocoa meal concentrates, nor for between forages. There was also no forage to concentrate interaction. Animals fed ammoniated elephant grass showed the greatest weight gain. The partial profitability per kg of weight gain raised with the ammonization and reduced with the inclusion of by-products in the concentrate.
ammoniation; intake; byproducts; urea
