Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the intake of leucaena, Enterolobium cyclocarpum, fruits and a mixture of both feeds on in vitro gas production and in vivo sheep productive performance. The experiment was conducted at the University of Yucatan, Mexico. Twenty-four Pelibuey sheep, 20.28 ± 2.99 kg average liveweight (LW), were used. Animals were randomly assigned to the following experimental treatments: T1: 100% Pennisetum purpureum, T2: 30% Leucaena leucocephala foliage + 70% P. purpureum, T3: 30% E. cyclocarpum fruits + 70% P. purpureum, T4: 30% L. leucocephala foliage + 30% E. cyclocarpum fruits + 40% P. purpureum. Voluntary intake was higher in T4 (grass + leucaena + E. cyclocarpum) (P = 0.0001). Higher LW gain was observed in animals fed with T4 (P = 0.0001) and the lowest LW gains were recorded with grass (T1) and grass + leucaena (T2) (78.9 and 99.2 g/day, respectively). Similarly, the feed conversion efficiency was improved with treatment T4 (P = 0.0030). The in vitro gas production (48 h) was lower by 30 mL/0.5 g fermented DM in T4 compared with the other treatments (P = 0.0001). Apparent DM digestibility was higher in T3 and T4 (P = 0.0005). The protozoa counts were lower in T2, T3 and T4 (P = 0.0001). Higher intake, digestibility and sheep performance with diets containing grass + leucaena + E. cyclocarpum mixture arise from an improved nutritional diet as these sources have higher protein, lower cell walls and higher DM digestibility.