Dry matter, calcium and phosphorus in ovine rations containing cottonseed meal, yeast and urea

Abstract

This experiment was carried out with 24 male lambs of Polwarth (Ideal) breed with 21 kg of mean live weight. Digestibility of isoproteic rations including three different protein sources (cottonseed meal, RA; dry yeast, RL; and urea, RU) was studied. Data were analyzed in a completely randomized design with three treatments and eight replications. Digestibility coefficients of dry matter were smaller (P<0.05) in ration RA (58.29%) than in rations RU and RL (64.07 and 62.19%). The mean amounts of apparent absorption of mineral matter did not change significatively (P>0.05) among rations. The mean quantities of calcium and phosphorus absorbed did not differ (P>0.05) among treatments, with values of 26.53; 30.04 and 34.97% for calcium and 24.67; 43.10 and 32.40% for phosphorus in rations RA; RL and RU, respectively. Based on these results, and considering the data examined, it was concluded that the use of these three sources of protein can be employed for growing lambs.