ÓLEOS DE BABAÇU E GIRASSOL NA DIETA DE OVINOS CONFINADOS

Abstract

The objective was to evaluate the addition of babassu oil (OB) and its association with sunflower oil (OG) in the feed of confined sheep. Thirty-five castrated male Dorper crossbred lambs were fed five experimental diets: one diet without oil (OS) and four diets distributed as follows: 4.5% babassu oil; or its association with sunflower oil (3.0% of OB and 1.5% of OG; 2.25% of OB and 2.25% of OG; 3.0% of OG and 1.5% of OG, based on dry matter). The animals were confined for 60 days (10 days for adaptation and 50 days for data collection). Dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, non-fibrous carbohydrates, total carbohydrates, ethereal extract, and hemicellulose intake were determined, as well as average daily weight gain and feed conversion. For ingestive behavior, rumination time, ingestion, idleness, visits to the trough and water intake were determined, and for physiological parameters, rectal temperature, body temperature and respiratory rate were determined. There was an effect (P˂0.05) for CMS (SO:845.09; OB:531.37; 1.5OG:675.94; 2.25OG:734.66; 3.0 OG:713.72) and EEC (TC:29.86; OB:32.96; 1.5OG:43.64; 2.25OG:48.99; 3.0 OG:48.92) with reduced value for animals fed the OB diet and OG diets compared to the SO diet. There was no difference (P>0.05) for CFDN between the SO diet and OB diet, however there was a difference (P<0.05) between the SO diet and OG diets. There was an effect (P˂0.05) for EEC between the SO diet and OB diet with increasing consumption (SO:29.86; OB:32.96), and no effect was seen between the SO diet and OG diets (1.5OG:43.64; 2.25OG:48.99; 3.0 OG:48.92). There was no effect (P>0.05) among treatments for average daily weight gain and feed conversion, with average values of 223.8 g/day and 3.2, respectively. There was an effect for respiratory rate (P<0.05) with lower values found for the OB diet (OB:35.67) and for the OG diets (OG:38.7) compared to the SO diet (TC:43.99). There was no difference (P>0.05) for body temperature and rectal temperature between treatments. Animals fed the OB diet had lower water intake (P˂0.05) compared to animals fed the SO diet (SO:2.72) and there was no difference between the SO and OG diets. Diets containing babassu and sunflower oils provide high productive performance for confined sheep without promoting significant changes in physiological and behavioral parameters, and its use in intensive systems is recommended. The diet with the proportion of 1.5% sunflower oil and 3.0% babassu oil stands out.