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Effects of refused melon fruit in Canarana grass ensilage on intake, digestibility, serum biochemistry, performance, carcass characteristics and meat attributes of feedlot lambs

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Abstract

Ensilage of refused fruit with forage is a viable approach to increase resource use in ruminant feed. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of ensiling refused melon fruit (RMF) with Canarana grass on the intake, apparent digestibility, serum biochemistry, performance, carcass traits, and meat attributes of feedlot lambs. Four distinct silage treatment types were prepared by ensiling RMF at 0 g/kg (control), 70 g/kg, 140 g/kg, and 210 g/kg (as fed) with Canarana grass. Twenty-eight male Santa Inês lambs (7 lambs per treatment), initially weighing 22.3 ± 1.0 kg at 120 days of age, were distributed in a completely randomized design and confined for a total of 96 days, including a 23-day adaptation period and 73 experimental days in a feedlot. The lambs received the treatment-silage in diets as a complete mixture with a roughage: concentrate ratio of 30:70. The inclusion of RMF in Canarana grass ensilage decreased (P < 0.05) the lambs’ intake of dry matter, crude protein and metabolisable energy. The inclusion of RMF in ensilage had a quadratic effect (P < 0.05) on the digestibility of non-fibrous carbohydrates. The serum total protein and cholesterol levels decreased (P < 0.05) with the inclusion of RMF in the ensilage, but we observed no effect on the final weight and average daily gain of the lambs. The feed efficiency increased (P < 0.05) by including RMF in the Canarana grass ensilage. The RMF in the ensilage did not influence cold carcass weight and yield. The fat content of the meat decreased (P < 0.05) with the inclusion of RMF in the ensilage. It is recommended the inclusion of up to 210 g/kg of RMF in Canarana grass ensilage to increase feed efficiency and avoid impacts on the performance and carcass attributes of confined lambs.

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Funding

This study was funded by the “Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior(CAPES)”; and the “Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)”.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, Francisco Mota Street, Costa e Silva, Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte, 59625-900, Brazil

    Salenilda Soares Firmino, Patrícia de Oliveira Lima, Palloma Vitória Carlos de Oliveira, Joice Texeira Souza, Thiago Luís Alves Campos de Araújo, Marília Williani Filgueira Pereira, Michelly Fernandes de Macedo, Hélia Maria de Souza Leite, Valdeir Mario Silva Veríssimo, Flávia Chrisfany da Silva Pimentel & Dorgival Morais de Lima Júnior

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  1. Salenilda Soares Firmino
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  2. Patrícia de Oliveira Lima
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  3. Palloma Vitória Carlos de Oliveira
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  4. Joice Texeira Souza
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Contributions

Salenilda Soares Firmino; Patrícia de Oliveira Lima; Palloma Vitória Carlos de Oliveira; Joice Texeira Souza; Michelly Fernandes de Macedo; Hélia Maria de Souza Leite; Valdeir Mario Silva Veríssimo and Flávia Chrisfany da Silva Pimentel conceptualized the study design, collected data, and conducted the experiment. Thiago Luís Alves Campos de Araújo; Marília Williani Filgueira Pereira and Michelly Fernandes de Macedo performed data analysis. Dorgival Morais de Lima Júnior wrote the first draft of the paper. Patrícia de Oliveira Lima reviewed and commented on the first draft. All authors reviewed and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Dorgival Morais de Lima Júnior.

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Firmino, S.S., Lima, P., de Oliveira, P.V.C. et al. Effects of refused melon fruit in Canarana grass ensilage on intake, digestibility, serum biochemistry, performance, carcass characteristics and meat attributes of feedlot lambs. Trop Anim Health Prod 56, 153 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-024-03988-y

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