In order to study the inclusion of forage watermelon (Citrullus lanatus var. Citroides) meal (FWM) in pigeon pea hay based diets (Cajanus cajan) (PPH), a digestibility trial in sheep was carried out for testing five levels of FWM (20, 35, 50, 65 and 80%). Twenty lambs with an average age of six months and live weight of 11.2 kg (± 1.2) were used. The experimental period was twenty days for adaptation and five days for total refuses and feces collection. The chemical composition of diet ingredients was determined, being the levels of dry matter (DM) 95.3 and 95.75%, crude protein (CP) 18.7 and 16.8%, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) 38.8 and 64.3% for WFM and PPH, respectively. The water, DM, organic matter (OM), CP, ether extract (EE), NDF, acid detergent fiber (ADF), hemicellulosis (HCEL), non-fibrous carbohydrates (NFC), total carbohydrates (TCOH) intakes, as well as the DM, MO, CP, EE, NDF, ADF, HCEL and TCOH digestibilities were accurately measured. The DM, OM, CP, NDF, ADF, HCEL and TCOH intakes showed a quadratic behavior according to the FMF levels. The ether extract intake remained unchanged, while the NFC intake was linearly positive. The DM (58%), MO (69%), NDF (41%) and EE (85%) digestibility coefficients were not significantly influenced by the forage watermelon meal levels. The OM (54 to 62%), ADF (36 to 49%) and TCOH (47 to 58%) digestibility ranged linear and positively, while the HCEL digestibility showed the opposite behavior. The experimental diets provided dry matter intake enough to meet the animal requirements. The digestibility coefficients observed were satisfactory. The forage watermelon meal can be used in the guandu hay based diets in the levels from 35 to 66% of dry matter.
digestive aspects; foods; lambs; nutrition
