Desempenho, biometria e comportamento ingestivo de cordeiros em pastejo, suplementados com blocos multinutricionais contendo própolis vermelha de Alagoas

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance, biometry and ingestive behavior of lambs under grazing conditions, supplemented with multinutritional blocks (MB) containing Alagoas red propolis (ARP) as a natural feed additive. Pastures are the natural basis for feeding ruminants, as well as being a low-cost food source, however, supplementation plans are needed to improve the productive animal performance. Ionophores are antibiotic additives frequently used in ruminant diets, however it is believed that these products may leave residues in the final product. Thus, studies with propolis, as a natural additive substitute, have been growing. In addition, supplementation with multinutritional blocks allows a good ruminal functioning, without abrupt drop in pH and rumen concentration of ammonia, typical of conventional supplementation. The experiment was carried out at the Agricultural Sciences Center of UFAL. Ten crossbred Santa Inês lambs with an average initial weight of 20 kg were used. The lambs remained for 56 days in an area of elephantgrass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum. Cv. Mott) divided into pickets. Food supplementation was based on corn and soybean in the form of multinutritional blocks containing or not ARP extract as a feed additive. The performance, the evolution of the biometric measurements and the ingestive behavior of the animals were evaluated. Supplementation with MB containing ARP did not influence consumption, however, it improved daily weight gain, feed efficiency and thorax circumference of the lambs. The ingestive behavior of lambs was influenced by the rainfall conditions of the day of evaluation, and not by the presence of ARP in the multinutritional blocks. However, further studies are needed to identify the mechanisms responsible for these outcomes.