Intake and digestibility of nutrients in sheep fed fodder salt of faveleira (“Cnidoscolus phyllacanthus”)

Abstract

This study evaluated the intake and apparent digestibility of nutrients by sheep fed with fodder salt with faveleira (Cnidoscolus phyllacanthus), with increasing levels of sodium chloride in the preparation. Twenty five sheep, mongrel, not castrated, placed in individual cages, and distributed in a completely randomized design with five treatments and five replicates. Diets were offered the will containing 1, 3, 5 and 7% sodium chloride in the fodder salt. All animals also received grounded Tifton-85 hay (Cynodon sp) as basal diet abundant, and water abundant. All Diets were offered twice a day. Increasing levels of sodium chloride no fodder salt faveleira provided differences (P < 0.05) on intake and apparent digestibility of dry matter, neutral detergent fiber, crude protein, ether extract, total digestible nutrients and non-fibrous carbohydrates, when compared to the control treatment. It is recommended maximum to include up to 3% of sodium chloride in the composition of forage salt faveleira, for providing improved intake of dry matter. All tested levels provided improvement inteke of crude protein, ether extract, and non-fiber carbohydrates and also improved the apparent digestibility of all parameters when compared to the control treatment, however, the level of 1% inclusion of sodium chloride in the fodder salt faveleira showed better digestibility.