Soybean molasses: an alternative to sheep's supplementation

Abstract

The objective was to evaluate soybean molasses as supplement for sheep at crescent levels. Five-crossbred 1/2 Dorper Santa Ines ewes with initial body mass of 45 +/- 3.5 kg and 12 +/- 2 months of age were used. Treatments consisted of 0, 3, 6, 9 and 12% of soybean molasses inclusion to a basal corn silage diet, which fed exclusively supports the nutritional requirements of ewes at maintenance. The treatments were assigned into 5x5 latin square design. Five experimental periods, of 12 days each (1st to 5th day: diet adaptation period; 6th to 12th: data collection and sampling), was adopted. The statistical analysis performed were regression analysis with 5% of significance. Crude protein and water intakes increase as increase the supplementation levels of soybean molasses increased allowing the fit of linear regressions (P<0.05). Supplementation up to 12 % did not affect the intake of dry matter, energy and neutral detergent fiber or the digestibility of dry matter, protein and neutral detergent fiber (P>0.05). Also, ingestive behavior and blood variables, as metabolic mineral profile, was not affected (P>0.05). Soybean molasses can be used as supplement for sheep until 12 % of daily ration without affect feed digestibility, ingestive behaviour and metabolic profile.