Fiber fractions intake and digestibility for pregnant ewes with nutritional restriction or not

Abstract

The fibrous fractions intake and digestibility in pregnant ewes submitted or not to nutritional restriction. 73 ewes were used at different pregnancy stages, with different fetuses numbers and 10 non-pregnant ewes, all of Santa Ines breed. Animals were submitted or not to nutritional restriction in accordance with the treatments. Animal nutritional requirements were calculated according to recommendations for predicted dry matter intake, energy (total digestible nutrients, TDN) and crude protein (CP). From the animals which received nutritional restriction were removed 15% of energy (TDN) and crude protein requirements. Ewes diet was composed by maize meal (Zea mays), soybean meal (Glycine max), Tifton chopped hay (Cynodon spp.) and limestone. Experiment was conducted in completely randomized design with 2 x 2 x 4 factorial arrangement. Fetuses number influenced on intake and apparent digestibility of dry matter, organic matter and acid detergent fiber. Nutritional restriction, as expected, reduced dry matter intake and, consequently, apparent digestibility of nutrients studied. Cellulose intake was influenced significantly during pregnancy by the number of fetuses and nutritional management. It was observed that body size, age and fetuses number influenced in the capacity of neutral detergent fiber intake. This fact shows that ewes which did not reach the full growth should receive special attention with quantity and especially with forage quality.