Abstract
ABSTRACT. de Araújo P.B., de Andrade R.de P.X., Ferreira M. de A., Batista A.M.V., Carvalho C.C.D. & Soares P.C. [Effect of replacement tifton hay (Cynodon spp) for castor beans hulls (Ricinus communis) based diets of spineless cactus (Nopalea cochenilifera Salm Dick) metabolites on the profile of mineral and energy-protein in sheep]. Efeito da substituição do feno de capim tifton (Cynodon spp) por casca de mamona (Ricinus communis) em dietas a base de palma forrageira (Nopalea cochenilifera Salm Dick) sobre o metabolismo energético, protéico e mineral em ovinos. Revista Brasileira de Medicina Veterinária, 34(4):327-335, 2012. Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Rua Dom Manoel de Medeiros, s/n, Dois Irmãos, Recife, PE 52171-900, Brasil. E-mail: psoares@dmv.ufrpe.br Describes for the first time the metabolic profile of sheep fed diets based on cactus (Nopalea cochenilifera Salm Dick) with different levels of bark of castor (Ricinus communis) replacing Tifton hay, depicting the importance of its application in studies with co-products of agribusiness. We used 28 adult sheep, whole, without defined breed, with average weight of 18 kg. Blood samples were collected for determination of the following biological indicators: creatinine, urea, uric acid, total protein, albumin, globulin, aspartate aminotransferase, gamma glutamyl transferase, alkaline phosphatase, glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, calcium and phosphorus. The variables are processed by customary biochemical methods in semi-automatic analyzer by flame photometry. The data were subjected to analysis of variance at 5% probability. Effects were observed for dietary variables: total protein, albumin, globulin, cholesterol, triglycerides, gamma glutamyl transferase and calcium. The replacement of tifton hay by the bark of castor linearly increased serum total protein, aspartate aminotransferase, gamma glutamyl transferase, cholesterol, triglycerides and calcium, as compared to serum globulin was negative linear profile while albumin had a quadratic profile. Regarding the time of collection of biological materials is not only significant changes were observed for the variables albumin and aspartate aminotransferase. There was no interaction between diet and collections in any of the variables. The replacement of tifton hay Castor caused by the shell, over time of receipt of the diets, increased linearly in serum urea, uric acid, total protein, globulin, gamma glutamyl transferase, plasma glucose, triglycerides, and P, while linear decrease was observed in serum creatinine and calcium. quadratic effect was observed in serum concentration of alkaline phosphatase and cholesterol, and, respectively, the maximum average 42 days of receipt of the diets. The castor bean hulls replacing the Tifton hay in diets based on cactus in sheep led to a metabolic response to energy deficit that can affect animal performance. It is also important to the use of different biological markers in the evaluation of sheep receiving diets with variation in the composition and can relate to other production parameters such as intake and nutrient absorption.