METABOLIC PROFILE OF SANTA INES LAMBS FINISHED IN FEEDLOT WITH FEEDING RESTRICTION AND AD LIBITUM

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the metabolic profile of 24 male Santa Ines sheep, with initial mean live weight of 20 ± 1.25 kg, submitted to feed restriction followed by refeeding, distributed into four treatments with 0, 20, 40 or 60 % of food restriction. Two trials were carried out, one concerning restriction and the other one for feedback. For this, a completely randomized experimental design was used, with four treatments and six replicates. It was observed in the food restriction phase that there was a linear decrease in biochemical concentrations of urea, glucose, GGT, and phosphorus; conversely, the cholesterol concentration increased linearly at the end of the restrictive period. Food restriction had a negative effect on triglyceride and creatinine concentrations. Differently, total protein and albumin values increased significantly with the restriction period. In the refeeding, a linear decreasing behavior was observed for urea, glucose, GGT and magnesium. In the second assay, total protein, globulin and creatinine concentrations were found to differ (P <0.05) between the collection periods. Food restriction levels affected protein metabolism and also interfered with energy and mineral metabolism, and refeeding resulted in altered protein and energy metabolism. 
Keywords: Clinical biochemistry; Fasting; Nutrition; Sheep