Use of cactus pear and legume hays in sheep feeding in feedlot

The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) associated with legume hays in sheep feeding in feedlot. Were utilized 24 sheep ½ Soinga X ½ SRPD (without defined breed) with an average weight initial of 21,38kg ± 2,53, distributed in a completely randomized design with four treatments and six replications. The animals were housed in individual stalls for monitoring weight gain (with weekly weighings), measuring food consumption, prediction of dry matter intake and nutrients, and nutrients apparent digestibility. Diets were composed of four treatments, which were represented by different types of legume hays associated with palm: PAFC: cactus pear + hay “catanduva”; PAFS: cactus pear + hay “sabiá”; PAFT: cactus pear + hay “catingueira”; PAFG: cactus pear + hay “gliricídia”. Was observed treatment effect (P <0,05) on dry matter intake (DMI) expressed as kg/day, % BW and BW0,75 with the following averages: 1,21kg/day; 3,64 %BW; 87,42 BW0,75 respectively, as well as the consumption of organic matter (OMI) 1,09 kg/day intake of neutral detergent fiber (NDFI) 0,463 kg/day and intake of total carbohydrates (CCHOTI) 0,867 kg/day with higher averages for the treatment PAFC. No was observed influence of treatment on final live weight 33,18 kg, live weight gain full 11,80 kg, gain live weight average daily 0,196 kg/day, feed conversion 6,48, feed efficiency 16,04%, crude protein intake (CPI) 0,216 kg/day, intake of extract ether (EEI) 0,015 kg/day, intake of non-fiber carbohydrates (CCNF) 0,414 kg/day and apparent digestibility of DM, OM, CP and NDF with averages of 66,97%, 70,92%, 74,58% and 52,60% respectively. We conclude that the giant cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) associated with legume hays can be a good strategy for feeding sheep in confinement.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar o uso da palma forrageira gigante (Opuntia ficus-indica) associada a fenos de leguminosas na alimentação de ovinos em sistema de confinamento. Foram utilizados 24 ovinos ½Soinga X ½ SRPD (sem padrão racial definido) com peso médio inicial de 21,38 ± 2,53 kg, distribuídos em delineamento inteiramente casualizado com quatro tratamentos e seis repetições. Os animais foram alojados em baias individuais para acompanhamento de ganho de peso, medição de consumo alimentar, determinação do consumo e da digestibilidade aparente da matéria seca e dos nutrientes. Os quatro tratamentos foram compostos pelos diferentes tipos de fenos de leguminosas associados à palma, sendo eles: PAFC: palma forrageira + feno de catanduva; PAFS: palma forrageira + feno de sabiá; PAFT: palma forrageira + feno de catingueira; PAFG: palma forrageira + feno de gliricídia. Observou efeito do tratamento (P