Effects of increasing inclusion of soy molasses in diets for feedlot lambs: performance and feeding behavior

Abstract

With the increase in the cost of feeding feedlot animals, the use of byproducts becomes more interesting. This way, a by-product such as soybean molasses (SM), with nutritional features, can be replaced by other energetic ingredients in the diets, in addition to the greater animal performance. SM is derived from the extraction of carbohydrates from defatted soybean meal to produce the isolated soybean protein. Although this ingredient presents attractive characteristics, more information about of their actions for ruminants is lacking. In this sense, the present study aims to evaluate the replacement of corn grain by SM in diets for feedlot lambs on the DM and nutrients intake, performance and invective behavior. Forty lambs (SantaInês x Dorper), not castrated, average body weight (BW) ± 20 kg, ± 90 days old will be used. The animals will be distributed in randomized complete design, and will be submitted to 4 treatments diets, consisting of inclusion of 0, 10, 20 or 30% DM of SM. Treatment diets will be composed of corn silage, DCG, wheat bran, soybean meal, limestone, mineral salt and urea. The ratio of forage: concentrate will be 20:80. During the experimental period, the daily consumption will be evaluated, weighing and collecting orts before feeding to calculate the DMand nutrients intake. The ingestive behavior will be evaluated on the 5, 25 and 45 days of feedlot. Data will be analyzed with PROC MIXED using SAS software. Contrast will be used to compare the linear and quadratic effects of SM, as well as the effects of inclusion of byproduct vs control diet. The significant of 5% and 10% of trend will be considered.