Digestibility and nitrogen study in sheep feeding "Saccharina"

Abstract

Efficiency of urea nitrogen utilization was determined in 7 day total collection digestibility and nitrogen retention trial, conducted with 15 wethers. Diets were: sugar cane supplemented with poultry waste (A); sugar cane plus 1% urea (B); and "saccharina" (aerobic fermented sugar cane with 1% urea -B). Voluntary dry matter intake was higher for treatment A, but dry matter, ether extract and nitrogen free extract apparent digestibilities were statistically lower (P<0,05) for treatment A. Crude protein digestibility in the sugar cane plus urea treatment was higher than in the sugar cane + poultry waste treatment. It was concluded that under the conditions of this trial, the "saccharina" process of fermentation didn't improve the digestibilities of the protein and fiber portions of diet.