CONSUMPTION, DIGESTIBILITY AND NITROGEN-RETENTION OF RAMS IN RATIONS BASED ON RUSTIC SACCHARINA AND HOMEMADE PROTEIN MOLASSES

Eight 31 kg average liveweight Pelibuey rams were used in a balanced L atin square design for evaluating the apparent dry matter digestion, o rganic matter and crude fibre, as well as nitrogen retention in four e xperimental rations in which fresh forage supplied at a rate of 3 kg/1 00 kg liveweight and one of the following alternatives: molasses-3% ur ea ad libitum and 100 g of soybean meal/animal/day (control); Sacchari na ad libitum (S); homemade protein molasses ad libitum (HPM) and Sacc harina + homemade protein molasses ad libitum (SHPM). Consumption and apparent digestibility of the dry matter and the organic matter were h igher (P < 0.001) in the control treatment, while consumption and crud e fibre digestibility higher (P < 0.001) in rations based on Saccharin a and Saccharins + HPM and nitrogen retention was lower lower (P < 0.0 5) in the supplemented ration with Saccharina. Results obtained sugges t the convenience of supplementing the rations based on Saccharins wit h an additional nitrogen and energy source.