Performance of sheep fed with silages of elephant grass mixed with by-products from tropical fruit juices industry

Abstract

The aim of this study was to measure the performance and intake  of  dry matter, crude protein, fiber in neutral detergent by confined ovine fed with elephant grass silage alone (control) or mixed with by-products of the fruit industry of west Indian cherry(7%), cashew(10,5)  and dehydrated pineapple(10,5%). A completely randomized design was used with five treatments and four replicates consisted of one ovine(sheep). For dry matter intake, the silages with cashew resulted in a consume higher than control, while for fiber in neutral detergent there was higher intake of silage with addition by-products.and all silages with co-products have higher NDF intake than the silage of napier grass alone. Higher body weight gains were observed for animals fed with silages containing cashew and pineapple when compared to control silage but there were no differences in feed conversion among treatments. It is concluded that cashew and pineapple by-products used in the form of silages mixed with elephant grass increased body weight gain of sheep when compared with silage of elephant grass solely.