Performance and intestinal histology of sheep fed detoxified castor bean meal in sugarcane silage

• Published in: South African journal of animal science Vol. 51; no. 6; pp. 735 - 744
• Main Authors: Júnior, P.R. Dantas, Oliveira, J.S, Ribeiro, N.L, Rola, L.D, Silva, E.G, Oliveira, A.C, Almeida, V.V.S, Júnior, D.M. Lima, Guerra, R.R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: South African Society for Animal Science (SASAS) 09-05-2022; Sabinet Online
• Subjects: Analysis; Detoxification; Glycogen; Morphometry; Rumen; rumen histology; Sheep; Silage; Sugarcane; Brazil
• ISSN: 0375-1589; 2221-4062
• DOI: 10.4314/sajas.v51i6.6

This study evaluated histological changes in the digestive organs and kidneys of sheep fed sugarcane silage augmented with detoxified castor bean meal (CBM). Forty Santa Inês sheep (initial weight 20 ± 0.3 kg) were adapted to the experimental regime for 14 days, after which data were collected for 60 days. The treatments consisted of S0: sugarcane silage (SC); S5: SC augmented with 5% CBM; S10: SC augmented with 10% CBM; S15: SC augmented with 15% CBM; and S20: SC augmented with 20% CBM. After 74 days of confinement, the animals were slaughtered, and then fragments of the liver, rumen, intestine, and kidney were collected for histomorphometric analyses. The intake of dry matter and the average weight gain increased linearly with the level of CBM (P