Corn gluten meal in feedlot sheep diets

Abstract

To evaluate the use of concentrates containing corn gluten meal in the diet of feedlot sheep, this work was carried out. Five types of concentrates with 0, 20, 40, 60 and 80% of corn gluten meal were tested in diets based on Tifton hay (Cynodon sp). The concentrates were supplied in the proportion of 2.5% of the body weight (BW) of the animals. Twenty Santa Inês male sheep were used in an entirely random design with four replicates. It was evaluated the dry matter (DMI), the crude protein (CPI) and the neutral detergent fiber (NDFI) intakes, as well as the body weight gain and the feed conversion. Relative to DMI, there was no differences among animals fed with the various diets. However, it was observed a linear increase in the CPI with the inclusion of the corn gluten meal in the concentrates. Although a significant reduction in body weight and feed conversion has been observed, one stresses the substantial reduction in corn and soy meal proportions in the diet, with the increasing levels of corn gluten meal. Thus, the use of the corn gluten meal should be indicated after a careful cost-benefit analysis, as it can be used in substitution to high cost ingredients.