Performance and carcass traits of lambs fed different types of silage

Abstract

To evaluate the influence of different types of silage on the performance and carcass traits of feedlot lambs, 15 intact Santa Inês lambs with a mean age of 3 months and mean initial live weight of 18.7 ± 2.5 kg were used. The animals were randomly assigned to the following treatments, with five repetitions per treatment: corn silage, elephant grass silage with 15% corn meal, and sweet potato silage produced from the aerial part with 15% corn meal. Roughage corresponded to 50% of dietary dry matter. There was no difference (P>0.05) in carcass traits or commercial cuts, probably due to the chemical composition of the diets and because dry matter intake by the animals was similar between treatments. Silage produced from the aerial part of sweet potato and elephant grass silage do not affect performance, carcass traits or meat cuts and can be recommended based on nutritional evaluation for the feeding of feedlot lambs.

Keywords

• batata doce
• capim-elefante
• cortes comerciais
• espessura de gordura.