Resumen

HERRERA ANGULO, Ana María et al. Degradabilidad y digestibilidad de la materia seca del forraje Hidropónico de Maíz (Zea Mays). Respuesta animal en términos de consumo y ganancia de peso.. Rev. Cient. (Maracaibo) [online]. 2007, vol.17, n.4, pp.372-379. ISSN 0798-2259.

Degradability and Digestibility of Dry Matter of Hydroponic Corn (Zea mays). Intake and Live Weight Gain in Animals. ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to determine degradability (DEMS) and apparent digestibility of dry matter (DAMS) from hydroponic corn (FHM) as well as its effect on dry matter intake (DMI) and live weight gain (LWG) in tropical lambs. The study comprises 3 experiments (E1, E2 y E3); The E1 and E2 evaluated DEMS and DAMS, while in E3 the CMS and GDP were determined. For E1, nylon bags and a rumen cannulated cow consuming forrage ad libitum were used. In this experiment DEMS after 48 h was 42. 2%. For E2, four male ovines (29.35 ± 2.37 kg. LW of faeces). In this experiment, DAMS was 55.9 ± 10.3%. For E3, 10 growing male ovines (14.06 ± 1.87 kg. LW) allocated into 2 groups (T₀ y T₁) of 5 each were used. T₀= basal diet ad libitum + 250 g of wheat middling. T₁= basal diet ad libitum + 250 g de FHM. The LWG was greater in T₀ than T₁ (41.66 ± 12.68 vs. 12.16 ± 11.92 g/d; P<0.05). Likewise, DMI was greater for T₀ compared to T₁ (218.35 vs. 108.95 ± 31.41 g/anim/d; P<0.05). In conclusion, although DEMS and DAMS were acceptable, the animal response in terms of CMS y GDP was unfavourable to FHM.

Palabras clave : Hydroponic corn; degradability; digestibility; intake; live weight gain.