Abstract

MENDEZ, Getulio et al. Effect of the level of hen manure on the intake of diets for stall fed growing lambs. Zootecnia Trop. [online]. 2004, vol.22, n.1, pp.1-14. ISSN 0798-7269.

In order to evaluate the effect of the level of hen manure on the intake of diets for stalled fed growing lambs, an experiment was carried out using a Latin square 3x3 design, with 12 days periods and two squares. The treatments consisted in three levels of hen manure in the ration: 30 (TA), 40 (TB) and 50% (TC) and mean differences were analyzed by the Tukey test. Six male lambs crossed from tropical breeds (West African and Barbados Black Belly) were used, with an initial live weight of 15±1.3 kg. The animals were housed in individual pens provided with feeding troughs and drinking water. The ingredients of the diets were maize cobs, sugar cane molasses, tallow, and wheat meadling, included to complete 100% of the complete rations. These diets were offered ad libitum and weighed daily in order to estimate individual intake. Chemical composition of rations TA, TB and TC were 18.7, 18 and 17.5% CP, 4.8, 7.9 and 9.4% Ca and 1.6, 1.8 and 1.9% P. The level of hen manure in the ration did not affect significantly the intake, so it could be included in the highest level (50%) without effect on growing lambs intake.

Keywords : hen manure; maize cobs; lambs; intake.