Fifty five Merino lambs (15.6 kg initial body weight, BW) were distributed in 5 experimental groups to study the effect of level of sunflower soapstock (SS) inclusion in the TMR (0% -Control-, 1.5, 3.0, 4.5 and 6.0%) on digestibility and animal performance. The animals were fed ad libitum, BW being recorded twice a week. Feces and urine were collected for 5 days from 4 animals per group to estimate digestibility. Lambs were slaughtered at 27 kg BW, hot and carcass weights being recorded. No significant differences were observed in feed intake. Dry matter and neutral detergent fibre digestibility decreased as level of soapstock increased (P0.05). Lambs receiving 3.0% sunflower soapstock tended to have the best average daily gain and feed to gain ratio (P<0.10), followed by Control, 6.0, 1,5 and 4,5% groups. No significant differences were observed in chilling losses or dressing percentage. The inclusion of sunflower soapstock up to 6% in the TMR for fattening lambs has no detrimental effects on intake and animal performance, but considering the effects on dry matter and fibre digestibility, the optimum level of inclusion seems to be around 3%.

3 páginas, 2 tablas.-- Trabajo presentado a las XV Jornadas sobre Producción Animal AIDA (Zaragoza, 14 al 15 de mayo, 2013).

Proyecto CICYT (AGL2010-19094).

Peer reviewed