ABSTRACT
This study aimed to evaluate intake and digestibility in sheep fed with residue from common bean (0, 33%, 66% and 100%) in substitution of cottonseed cake (in a dry matter basis). Sixteen mongrel male sheep with average body weight of 30 kg were distributed in a completely randomized design with four treatments and four replicates. The intakes of dry matter and organic matter expressed in gram/day had a quadratic effect. Substitution of cottonseed cake for residue from common bean caused the digestibility coefficients of the nutritional components to increase linearly (P < 0.05), except for the ether extract and neutral detergent fiber corrected for ash and protein. The diets had no effects (P > 0.05) on fecal excretion. On the other hand, dry matter digestibility was quadratically affected (P < 0.05) by diets regardless of the indicator used. The results obtained in this study indicate that residue from common bean can replace up to 66% of cottonseed cake in the concentrate.
Acknowledgments
The authors also wish to thank the Foundation for Research of Mato Grosso (Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Mato Grosso - FAPEMAT) and the Foundation for Research Scientific and Technological Development of Maranhão (Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa e ao Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico do Maranhão - FAPEMA) for their financial support.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.