Performance of lambs fed diets with different concentration of Prosopis laevigata pods

Abstract

The objective of the study was to evaluate the effects on performance and products of ruminal fermentation of lamb diets in a sheep trial composed of 18 male lambs distributed randomly in three treatment diets containing different concentration of ground mesquite pods (VMM): 0% VMM (T1), 15% VMM (T2), and 30% VMM (T3). The nutritional composition of VMM and diets was determined. Feed intake, weight gain, and feed conversion were measured. In rumen, Volatile Fatty Acids (VFA) and N-NH3 were evaluated. Weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion were similar (p > 0.05) among treatments, as well as the production of VFA and N-NH3 (p > 0.05). The mesquite pods provide an adequate nutritional content to be used in lamb diets without affecting the performance when used in 15% or 30%.