INGESTIVE BEHAVIOR OF FINISHING SANTA INÊS SHEEP USING BY-PRODUCTS FROM ETHANOLTO REPLACE CORN GRAIN IN THE DIET

Resumen

Research shows that the use of dry distiller grain in ruminant diets can improve daily weight gain and feed efficiency, being regarded as a promising feed source in intensive production systems. The objective was to evaluate the effect of different levels of dietary inclusion of dry distiller grain with high-fiber solubles (DDGS FS OURO®) on the ingestive behavior of confined sheep. Eight animals of the Santa Inês breed were used, males and castrated, with an initial body weight of 30 kg, aged 7 months. The animals were distributed in a double 4 x 4 Latin square design, with four experimental periods of 21 days each. For comparison of different fiber levels in DDGS, the regression test was adopted using mutually orthogonal contrasts. Ingestive behavior was determined on the 21st day of each experimental period by visual observation for 12 hours, with 5- inute intervals to determine the time spent on feeding, rumination, idleness, and water intake. Ingestive behavior (min/day and/or %), referring to the time spent in idleness, rumination, feeding, and water intake, was not influenced by the inclusion of high-fiber DDGS in DM of the diet. The increased inclusion of dry distiller grain with high-fiber solubles replacing corn grain had no effect on the ingestive behavior of confined sheep.