CONSUMPTION AND DIGESTIBILITY IN SHEEP FED DIFFERENT PROPORTIONS OF FINAL MOLASSES MAIZE IN BAGASSE PITH RATIONS/

Concentrates were prepared with different proportions of final molasse s/maize (10/30, 20/20, 30/10, 40/0), 45% of NaOH treated bagasse pith, 10% soybean meal, 2% urea, 2% zeolite and 1% minerals as ruled propor tions for studying the variation in consumption and the digestibility when maize is substituted by final molasses in 8 adult rams of 37 kg l iveweight. Concentrates were offend ad libitum and the forage at 2% li veweight. A double balanced Latin square design was used. Dry matter c onsumptions, g/kg (0.75) (99, 99, 97, 94) and organic matter (89, 89, 88, 88) did not differ between treatments, however, nitrogen and crude fibre consumption was increased (P < 0.05) on the inclusion of 20% ma ize. Apparent digestibility of the dry matter (63.5, 66.3, 65.3, 64.3) , organic matter (67.1, 68.7, 66.1, 66.8) and nitrogen (94.1, 93.2, 93 .6, 93.2) did not differ between treatments, although the digestibilit y of the crude fibre was higher (P < 0.05) in the concentrates when 20 and 30% maize, respectively were included. Results suggest a minimum inclusion levels of 20% maize, since fibre digestibility decreases on adding high proportions of final molasses in semi-integral diets of gr ound NaOH treated bagasse pith.