Citrus pulp in lamb diets: intake, digestibility, and ruminal parameters

This study aimed to evaluate the viability of replacing corn meal with citrus pulp (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 % dry matter of corn meal) by evaluating several nutritional parameters such as intake and digestibility of nutrients, and ruminal fermentation parameters. The diets were formulated to be isoproteic with a roughage: concentrate ratio of 60:40. Five crossbred lambs with an initial average weight of 26.1 +/- 1.8 kg were used and distributed in a 5 x 5 Latin Square design. For digestibility of nutrients was carried out to feed, orts, and feces collection. The evaluated nutrients were dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, ash, neutral detergent fiber, fiber acid detergent and lignin. Were determined nitrogen and carbohydrate fractions, and ruminal fermentation parameters (N-NH3 and ruminal pH). The results were subjected to analysis of variance and regression analysis (t-test; alpha = 0.05). Citrus pulp inclusion in the diets did not affect intake and digestibility of nutrients, or the pH and the NH3-N content of the rumen fluid. Citrus pulp can be used as a total substitute for corn in concentrate or up to 26.5% in the total ration for lambs (dry basis).