Suitability of different levels of sunflower cake from biodiesel production as feed ingredient for lamb production

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate performance traits, intake, nutrient apparent digestibility, and economic analysis of lambs fed diets containing different levels of sunflower cake (SFC) with a certain chemical composition. Thirty-six Santa Inês × Dorper lambs (n = 9 per treatment diet) with an average body weight (BW) of 19.5±2.19 kg at the beginning of the study were randomly allocated to four isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets for 63 days. A control diet without SFC was compared with diets containing 5, 10, and 15% of dietary dry matter (DM) of SFC replacing soybean meal and corn. Growth performance and economic indicators were calculated. Moreover, individual faeces were collected using canvas bags to evaluate the apparent digestibility of nutrients between days 30 and 45 of study. The total BW gain linearly decreased with the inclusion of SFC in the lamb diet. However, no differences among treatments were observed for final BW, average daily gain, average daily feed intake, or feed conversion ratio. The inclusion of different levels of SFC in the diet reduced the intakes of DM as g/kg BW and non-fibre carbohydrates on DM basis. The apparent digestibility of all nutrients studied improved with the inclusion of 5% SFC but decreased with diets containing 10 or 15% of SFC. Moreover, the higher benefit:cost ratio was obtained for diet containing 5% SFC. Therefore, SFC from biodiesel production could be used at levels of 5% in lamb rations, reducing feeding costs without worsening productive performance, nutrient intake, and digestibility at the ages studied.

摘要 本研究旨在评估饲喂不同化学组成水平向日葵饼粕（sunflower cake, SFC）日粮的羔羊的生产性能、采食量、养分表观消化率，并开展经济效益分析。本研究初始选取36只平均体重（BW）为19.5±2.19 kg的圣塔伊内斯×杜泊杂交羔羊，按每处理组9只随机分为4组，饲喂等能等氮日粮，试验周期共63天。设置不含SFC的对照组日粮，与分别以5%、10%、15%日粮干物质（DM）的SFC替代豆粕与玉米的试验日粮进行对比。本研究计算了生长性能与经济效益指标，同时于试验第30至45天期间采用帆布袋收集个体粪便，以评估受试养分的表观消化率。结果显示，羔羊日粮中添加SFC可使总增重呈线性下降趋势，但各处理组的末体重、平均日增重、平均日采食量及饲料转化率均无显著差异。日粮中添加不同水平SFC会降低以g/kg BW计的干物质采食量，以及以干物质为基础的非纤维碳水化合物摄入量。当添加5% SFC时，所有受试养分的表观消化率均有所提升，而添加10%或15% SFC时则会降低养分表观消化率。此外，添加5% SFC的日粮可获得更高的效益成本比。综上，生物柴油生产过程中产出的SFC可按5%的比例添加至羔羊日粮中，在不降低生产性能、养分采食量及消化率的前提下，有效降低饲喂成本。