Abstract

LEON ALVAREZ, Exequiel et al. Inclusion with foliage fresh of leucaena and honey-urea on diets of Cuban Pelibuey nursing sheep exploited on naturalized grasses. Zootecnia Trop. [online]. 2008, vol.26, n.3, pp.367-370. ISSN 0798-7269.

With the objective of evaluating the effect of the inclusion of foliage of leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala) on the growth and some biochemical indicators in Cuban Pelibuey sheep during the first 60 days of nursing 36 uniformed sheep was used according to its live weight to the beginning of the reproductive campaign (26.72, 27.40, 27.12, and 26.80 kg). A complete randomized design was used where the animals were assigned to four treatments with 9 animals each one where received different quantities of leucaena: Treatment 1: 1.5 kg/anim/d. Treatment 2: 1.25 kg/anim/d. Treatment 3: 1.0 kg/anim/d. Treatment 4: Control without leucaena. All treatments received ad libitum mineral salt, 0.2 kg of honey-urea at 2%, as well 8 h of grazing. The statistical analysis was carried out by means of an analysis of variance of simple classification. There were determined monthly live weight, corporal condition, and the following biochemical indicators: haemoglobin, glucose, total proteins, albumin, and urea. It was concluded that sheep in treatments 1 and 2 achieved, at 60 days of nursing, higher live weight than those of first time of gestation (36.47 and 33.67 kg), corporal condition above 3, and sanguine indicators within the physiological range for the species.

Keywords : supplementation; leucaena; lactancy; blood indicators; sheep.

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