Influences of the voluntary consumption of trees and bushes forage in the sanguine indicators of lambs

Abstract

This work aimed to evaluate the inclusion of different levels of arboreal foliage in the voluntary consumption of dry matter and the blood metabolic profile of lambs. It was developed at Havana, Cuba's "Villena Revolución" pasture and forage station. Twenty-four weaned lambs of the pelibuey breed were used, at 84 ± 9.75 days of age and an average live weight of 15.80 ± 2.74 kg, distributed in six groups with a completely randomized design (DCA) for 120 days. The treatments consisted of the inclusion in the totally mixed ration (RTM) in two levels (20.40%) of arboreal foliage (Tithonia diversifolia, Morus alba, Leucaena leucocephala) in substitution (80.60%) of Cenchrus purpureus hybrid Cuba OM-22, which was offered on a single occasion (08:30 a.m.) at a rate of 12% wet basis (BH) of live weight. The mixtures were isoenergetic, but not isoproteic. Blood biochemical indicators (glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, urea, creatinine) and hematological (hemoglobin, hematocrit) were determined. Dry matter intake was higher (1.31 vs. 1.37 kg/d, p<0.0001) when 40% of mulberry and Leucaena foliage participated in the mix. Within the blood profile, glucose, creatinine, hemoglobin, and hematocrit were below the physiological limits for the species, while cholesterol, triglycerides, and urea were within the normal range. It was concluded that the inclusion of 40% of mulberry and Leucaena in the mixture with Cenchrus hybrid purpureus Cuba OM-22, improved dry matter intake and maintained an influence on the sanguine metabolic profile.