Pilosocereus gounellei in the water supply for finishing sheep in regions of climatic vulnerability

• Published in: Small ruminant research Vol. 173; pp. 88 - 93
• Main Authors: Furtado, Rafael Nogueira, Moreira Filho, Emilson Costa, Carneiro, Maria Socorro de Souza, Pereira, Elzânia Sales, Rogério, Marcos Cláudio Pinheiro, Pinto, Andréa Pereira
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01-04-2019
• Subjects: Alternative foods; Cacti; Semi-arid region; Sheep; Water conversion; Water intake; Alternative foods; Sheep; Water intake; Semi-arid region; Water conversion; Cacti
• ISSN: 0921-4488; 1879-0941
• DOI: 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2019.02.012

•This study investigated the response of sheep fed on levels of Pilosocereus gounellei.•Pilosocereus gounellei in the diet reduces intake without altering feed conversion.•Voluntary water intake in sheep decreases with the levels of Pilosocereus gounellei.•Water conversion was reduced at the lower levels of Pilosocereus gounellei in the diet.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of diets containing different levels of Pilosocereus gounellei, (xiquexique), (0, 120, 240 and 360 g/kg DM) on intake, performance, ingestive behaviour and water use efficiency in sheep finished in confinement. Twenty non-castrated Santa Inês male lambs with an initial mean body weight of 18.86 ± 1.41 kg and approximately 100 days of age were distributed in a completely randomised design of four diets containing different levels of xiquexique (0, 120, 240 and 360 g/kg DM) with five replications. The inclusion of xiquexique in the diet resulted in a quadratic response (P < 0.05) in the consumption of fresh matter and non-fibrous carbohydrates. The consumption of dry matter and of other nutrients decreased (P < 0.05) with the levels of xiquexique in the diet. Feed conversion, rumination time, idle time, rumination efficiency (g/h DM), total water intake and total water conversion were not influenced (P > 0.05) by the levels of xiquexique. Total weight gain, average daily gain (ADG), feeding time, feeding efficiency (g NDF/h), rumination efficiency, frequency of water intake and voluntary water intake decreased (P < 0.05) linearly. Water intake from the feed increased (P < 0.05) with the levels of xiquexique, and there was a quadratic response for water conversion (WC), with a minimum value of 16.27 g water/g ADG, when the proportion of xiquexique in the diet reached 316 g/kg DM. Xiquexique can be used for intermediate levels of performance, and contributes to the water supply of sheep in regions that are more susceptible to climatic vulnerability.