Digestibility of multifunctional forages to be used in the redesign of ruminant production systems

• Grant number: 22/10939-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2022
• End date: November 30, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Pastures and Forage Crops
• Principal Investigator: Jozivaldo Prudêncio Gomes de Morais
• Grantee: Beatriz Alvarenga de Brito
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Agrárias (CCA). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). Araras , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Heterogeneous production systems with greater biodiversity can mitigate the impacts of conventional agricultural activities and remain competitive in the market. In ruminant production, properties can be reconfigured to be multifunctional, efficient in productivity and thus generating less environmental impacts, including forage species that have animal welfare, health and nutrition functions. The objective of this research will be to evaluate, through metabolic tests with sheep, the capacity of alternative forage species with food potential in the production of ruminants, which can be used in redesigning productive landscapes. Prior to this work, 8 alternative forages with potential for animal feeding were chosen, defined through the research group of the FAPESP project n° 2020/16076-0. Then the same group, from bromatological analysis, in vitro digestibility, in vitro gas and quantification of secondary compounds, will define three forages that will participate in this metabolic assay. Through this research, it is expected the definition of parameters that could justify the use of alternative forages in a complementary way to the foods conventionally used in ruminant diets.