Comportamiento productivo de corderas de pelo, alimentadas con pulpa fresca de limón como fuente energética

ABSTRACTObjective. Evaluate the effect of the inclusion of different levels of fresh lemon pulp (FLP) was determined as a substitute of sorghum grain in the feeding of hair sheep in parameters of daily weight gain (DWG), daily food consumption (DFC), and feed conversion (FC), the nutritional composition of the ration was also determined. Materials and methods. The study was carried out using 20 hair ewes individually fed on a period of 75 days. The treatments were as follows: T1=0% FLP; T2=10% FLP; T3=20% FLP; and T4=30% FLP based on DM. A totally randomized design was used with five replicates per treatment. Concentrate and FLP were offered ad libitum as a mixture, registering the amounts of feed offered and rejected daily. Body weight was registered every 21 days for the DWG and analysis of nutritional composition of rations was performed. And for an analysis of daily food consumption. The data were evaluated through ANOVA in an entirely randomized design. Results. There was no meaningful difference (p>0.05) for the DWG that scored 97, 108, 103 and 103 g or for the FC that scored 9.62, 8.68, 9.31 and 10.23, respectively. For each treatment and for each DFC based on DM, a meaningful difference was observed (p<0.05) for T4 by replacing sorghum to 30%. Conclusions. FLP is an alternative to replace partially or completely the grains for hair ewes without lessening the evaluated parameters.RESUMENObjetivo. Evaluar el efecto de la inclusión de diferentes niveles de pulpa fresca de limón (PFL), como sustituto del grano de sorgo en la alimentación de corderas de pelo, sobre los parámetros de ganancia diaria de peso (GDP), consumo diario de alimento (CDA, base materia seca, MS) y conversión alimenticia (CAL), y se determinó la composición bromatológica de las raciones. Materiales y métodos. El estudio se realizó, utilizando 20 corderas de pelo, alimentadas individualmente durante un período de 75 días, bajo condiciones de estabulación. Los tratamientos fueron: T1=0% PFL; T2=10% PFL; T3=20% PFL; y T4=30% PFL con base a MS. Se utilizó un diseño completamente al azar con cinco repeticiones por tratamiento. El concentrado y la PFL fueron ofrecidos de manera mezclada y a libre acceso, pesando el alimento ofrecido y rechazado diariamente, con pesajes cada 21 días para la GDP. Se realizó un análisis de composición nutricional de las raciones. Los datos se evaluaron mediante un ANOVA en un diseño completamente al azar. Resultados. No se encontró diferencia significativa (p>0.05) para la GDP que fueron de 97, 108, 103 y 103 g y las CAL fueron de 9.62, 8.68, 9.31 y 10.23, respectivamente, para cada tratamiento. Se observó un CDA con base en MS, mayor (p<0.05) para T4 al sustituir el sorgo hasta el 30%. Conclusiones. La PFL es una alternativa para sustituir parcial o totalmente a los granos en raciones para corderas de pelo, sin disminuir la productividad en los parámetros evaluados

Role of secondary plant metabolites on enteric methane mitigation in ruminants

The rumen microbiome plays a fundamental role in all ruminant species, it is involved in health, nutrient utilization, detoxification, and methane emissions. Methane is a greenhouse gas which is eructated in large volumes by ruminants grazing extensive grasslands in the tropical regions of the world. Enteric methane is the largest contributor to the emissions of greenhouse gases originating from animal agriculture. A large variety of plants containing secondary metabolites [essential oils (terpenoids), tannins, saponins, and flavonoids] have been evaluated as cattle feedstuffs and changes in volatile fatty acid proportions and methane synthesis in the rumen have been assessed. Alterations to the rumen microbiome may lead to changes in diversity, composition, and structure of the methanogen community. Legumes containing condensed tannins such as Leucaena leucocephala have shown a good methane mitigating effect when fed at levels of up to 30–35% of ration dry matter in cattle as a result of the effect of condensed tannins on rumen bacteria and methanogens. It has been shown that saponins disrupt themembrane of rumen protozoa, thus decreasing the numbers of both protozoa and methanogenic archaea. Trials carried out with cattle housed in respiration chambers have demonstrated the enteric methane mitigation effect in cattle and sheep of tropical legumes such as Enterolobium cyclocarpum and Samanea saman which contain saponins. Essential oils are volatile constituents of terpenoid or non-terpenoid origin which impair energy metabolism of archaea and have shown reductions of up to 26% in enteric methane emissions in ruminants. There is emerging evidence showing the potential of flavonoids as methane mitigating compounds, but more work is required in vivo to confirm preliminary findings. From the information hereby presented, it is clear that plant secondary metabolites can be a rational approach to modulate the rumen microbiome and modify its function, some species of rumen microbes improve protein and fiber degradation and reduce feed energy loss as methane in ruminants fed tropical plant species