Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: This study evaluated the effect of adding ground corn to BRS Capiaçu elephant grass silage on the intake, digestibility, and performance of confined sheep. Twenty‐eight male lambs (26.29 ± 0.46 kg) were distributed in randomized blocks, testing four diets: 1) control (corn silage + concentrate—CS); 2) elephant grass silage harvested at 4 m (GS4m); 3) GS4m + 10% ground corn (GS4m + 10%MM); and 4) silage harvested at 2.5 m + 20% corn (GS2.5m + 20%MM). The GS2.5m + 20%MM and GS4m treatments promoted higher dry matter intake (43.04 and 40.44 g/kg BW, respectively), while the CS diet had lower intake (29.53 g/kg BW). The GS4m + 10% MM and CS diets showed higher neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility (590.95 and 581.11 g/kg). Water consumption was higher in the GS2.5m + 20% MM (2.59 L/day) and GS4m (2.42 L/day) treatments. There was no difference in final weight (34.95 kg), daily gain (0.212 kg), or total gain (8.72 kg). The CS diet had better feed efficiency (197.52 g/kg DM) compared to GS2.5m + 20% MM (141.92 g/kg DM). It is concluded that BRS Capiaçu grass should be harvested at 4 m, with or without 10% corn, being a nutritionally and economically viable alternative for confined sheep.
DOI: 10.1002/jag2.70022
Language: English
Subfield: Agronomy and Crop Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W7128064554