Efeito da associação do gérmen de milho e palma forrageira Orelha de Elefante Mexicana (Opuntia stricta [Haw], Haw]) sobre o consumo de matéria seca, comportamento ingestivo e consumo de água

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the association of whole extra-fat corn germ (GIMEX) on dry matter intake, water consumption and ingestive behavior of goats and sheep. Four male sheep and four male goats were used, castrated, fistulated and cannulated in the rumen, with an average body weight of 38 kg and kept in a confinement system in individual stalls (2.0m x 1.0m), the stalls had slatted floors and were equipped with feeders and drinkers. The treatments consisted of: (T1) Tifton grass hay + concentrate without GIMEX, (T2) Tifton grass hay + concentrate with GIMEX, (T3) Tifton grass hay + forage palm + concentrate without GIMEX, (T4) Tifton grass hay + forage palm + concentrate with GIMEX. The experimental design was a 4x4 Latin square, with 4 animals, 4 treatments and 4 periods of 22 days each. The effects of treatment, species and treatment x species interaction were evaluated. The results obtained for the characteristics discussed in the study were significant (P <0.05), only for the effect of the influence of treatments. Dry matter intake, in kg/day, was lower in the CONT and GIMEX treatments, where forage palm was not present in the diet; consequently, the POEM and POEM + GIMEX treatments had higher dry matter consumption due to the influence of palm. With regard to water consumption, it was observed that the animals exposed to diets containing forage palm reduced their voluntary water intake via the drinking fountain. There was no influence of the species effect or the species x treatment interaction on any of the items evaluated (P>0.05). The time spent feeding and ruminating was shorter for diets containing cactus (POEM and POEM + GIMEX). There was no influence of the species effect and the species x treatment interaction on any of the items evaluated (P>0.05). POEM, replacing hay, increases dry matter intake and reduces water intake in addition to the time spent on feeding and rumination activities.