Effects of dietary inclusion of dry umbu fruit pulp residue (Spondias tuberosa Arr. Cam) on intake, ingestive behaviour, digestibility, nitrogen balance and ruminal pH in sheep

Abstract

. The aim the present to evaluate the effect of dietary inclusion of dry umbu pulp fruit residue (DUFR) into lamb diet. DUFR ground corn at 0, 8, 16, 24 and 32% of the total diet. To evaluate intake, digestion, nitrogen (N) balance and ingestive behaviour, twenty-five uncastrated male lambs (40.8 ± 4.17 kg) were randomly distributed among treatments for 21 days. To evaluate ruminal pH, ammonia N in the rumen fluid and total protozoa abundance, five days. The of dry protein (CP) total digestible nutrients (TDN), CP digestibilities, ruminal ammonia N, N-intake and not linearly affected by the inclusion of DUFR. However, a linear increase in neutral detergent fibre (NDF ap ) intake, time spent eating and ruminating, the number of boluses chewed/day, and ruminal pH in sheep with the increase of DUFR inclusion were The intake of EE and non-fibrous carbohydrates (NFC), digestibility of DM, NDF and TDN, time spent idling, amount (g) of DM/ bolus chewed, and protozoa count decreased linearly dietary inclusion of DUFR. The inclusion of up to 32% DUFR instead of ground corn eating and rumination time, however, it is not recommended as a concentrate feed because it reduces nutrient digestibility and nitrogen balance impairing performance.