Inclusão de aditivos em dietas com alta concentração de amido de diferentes fontes para cordeiros

Abstract

The selection and combination of additives, tailored to the diet profile and the animals' needs, aims to optimize feed efficiency and minimize the risk of rumen disorders. In high concentrate diets, this practice has proven effective in promoting rumen health and maintaining animal performance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the digestibility, intake, blood biochemical parameters, and performance of sheep fed high-starch diets, including different combinations of tannin, live yeast, and amylolytic enzymes. Five newly weaned male crossbred sheep (½ Dorper × ½ Santa Inês) were used. The animals were randomly allocated to individual metabolic cages in a Latin square design. The study was organized into five phases, each lasting 15 days. In each phase, the first 10 days were devoted to adapting the animals to their respective experimentais diets, while the following 5 days were devoted to collecting digestibility data to quantify food waste, feed and water consumption, as well as daily fecal and urine production. Simultaneously, on days 1, 3, and 5, blood samples were collected to assess metabolites; on day 5, blood samples were collected to assess blood glucose levels. The experiments lasted 75 days. The dietary treatments were: 1 – Control (no additives); 2 – Amylolytic Enzyme + Tannin (TE); 3 – Amylolytic Enzyme + Live Yeast (EL); 4 – Live Yeast + Tannin (TL); 5 – Live Yeast + Tannin + Amylolytic Enzyme (TLE). The diets used in the experiment were designed and adjusted based on NRC recommendations, with a 25:75 ratio between roughage and concentrate. The dry matter intake parameters, in relation to body weight, showed statistical differences. Similarly, the addition of additives influenced the protein profile, specifically albumin concentrations (g/dL). It was concluded that there were no deleterious changes in the evaluated parameters. Therefore, the inclusion of different combinations of feed additives for sheep does not cause metabolic disturbances. Keywords: sheep; food additives; digestibility; metabolism.