The addition effects of 0.0; 0.75; 1.5 and 2.25% of calcium oxide on sugar-cane bagasse (on natural matter basis) were studied to evaluate the performance, nutrients intake and apparent digestibility of the diets and nutrients in crossbred sheep of Santa Inês and native breeds. Twenty-four sheep, maintened in total confinement, were assigned in a completely randomized experimental design, with four levels of calcium oxide and six repetitions. Animals were kept in individual pens for 77 days. The first 14 days were for animals adaptation and three periods of 21 days of data collection. The method of total fecal collection was used to estimate digestibility, which was carried in four days at the end of the experimental period. Feces were collected three times a day, at 7 am, 1 and 6 pm. The intake of dry matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber and total digestible nutrients were not influenced by the use of calcium oxide. There was a linear effect in daily weight gain with increasing calcium oxide dose. However, there was no treatment effect on feed conversion and apparent digestibility coefficients of dry matter, crude protein and acid detergent fiber. Whereas the quadratic effect was observed for neutral detergent fiber apparent digestibility coefficient. The use of the hydrolized sugar cane bagasse with calcium oxide, from 1.5%, promote increase in performance of sheep and increase digestibility in neutral detergent fiber.
industrial residue; nutrition; small ruminant
