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Cottonseed Cake as a Feed Supplement: Effects on Nutrient Intake, Digestibility, Performance, Nitrogen Balance, and Ruminal Profile of Lambs Fed Sugarcane Silage-Based Diets
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Hactus Souto Cavalcanti, Juliana Silva de Oliveira, Alexandre Fernandes Perazzo, João Paulo de Farias Ramos, Alberto Jefferson da Silva Macêdo, Evandra da Silva Justino, Evandro de Sousa da Silva, Paloma Gabriela Batista Gomes, Liliane Pereira Santana, Anderson Lopes Pereira, Francisco Naysson de Sousa Santos, Daniele de Jesus Ferreira, Anderson de Moura Zanine and Edson Mauro Santos
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Abstract
Using additives in sugarcane silage can reduce dry matter losses and enhance animal performance by preserving nutritional value. This study evaluated the performance, nutrient digestibility, and blood parameters of sheep fed sugarcane silage with or without cottonseed cake. Twenty-six uncastrated, mixed-breed male lambs
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Using additives in sugarcane silage can reduce dry matter losses and enhance animal performance by preserving nutritional value. This study evaluated the performance, nutrient digestibility, and blood parameters of sheep fed sugarcane silage with or without cottonseed cake. Twenty-six uncastrated, mixed-breed male lambs (approximately 6 months of age; 26 ± 1.3 kg) were allocated to two dietary treatments based on sugarcane silage (SS) and cottonseed cake (CSC), which differed in the form of feed presentation: (1) the control, consisting of SS and fresh CSC provided simultaneously but offered separately, without physical mixing; and (2) the Partial Mixed Ration silage (S + CSC), in which SS and CSC were pre-mixed and ensiled together at a proportion of 80:20 (natural matter basis). Dry matter intake (1620 g/kg) was similar between diets, but dry matter digestibility (64.75%) and average daily gain (202.88 g/day) were higher in the cottonseed cake group, leading to greater total weight gain (8.11 kg). These animals also had a lower acetate/propionate ratio (4.2 vs. 2.0 mmol/L) and higher blood glucose (44 vs. 35 mg/dL). Higher N intake, urinary N, and retained N were observed in the cottonseed cake diet, which also improved the diet’s mineral balance. In conclusion, adding cottonseed cake to sugarcane silage enhances fermentation, preserves nutritional value, and improves sheep performance.
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