UTILIZAÇÃO DE ENERGIA POR CORDEIROS SOMALIS ALIMENTADOS

ABSTRACT- A twelve-week study was conducted to deterniine the influence of the levei of energy supplementation ou forage and total diet dry matter intake and energy utilization by growing Somali lambs. Thirty-six male lambs were randomly blocked among four energy leveis. To ali lambs were offered a daily protein suppiement at 0.5 % of Lhe body weight and an energy supplement ranging from 0.4 to 1.6 % of the body weight. Napiex-grass green chop was offered ad libitu.rn. Lambs were harnessed for total coilection of feces during the iast 7 days of the study. Forage and total dry matter intake decreased (P < 0.05) with an increase ia energy supplementation. Dry matter digestibility, digestible energy intalie, body weight and feed efficiency increased (P < 0.05) with an increase in the levei of energy in the diet. From Lhe regression of metabolizable energy intake (Kcal/kg° ' 75/day) on body weight gain (g/day) the estimated daily ME requirements for maintenance was 73 KcalJkg ° 75 and for live weight gain was 0.90 Kcal ME/g gain/kg ° 75. Index terms: hairy sheep, energy suppiementation, energy requirements