The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of the administration of 20 mg of slow liberation bovine somatotropin (rBST) on the dry matter intake and on the digestibility coefficient of dry matter (MS), acid detergent fiber, crude protein, crude energy, nitrogen balance and the daily weight gain in lambs fed diets based on corn silage, sugar cane or hydrolyzed bagasse and concentrate. Twenty-four crossbred lambs, averaging 4-5 months of age and 22 + 2 kg LW, were used. There was no effect of the rBST on the dry matter intake, the digestibilities of crude protein, acid detergent fiber, the nitrogen balance and the daily weight gain of the lambs. The gross energy digestibility was affected by the rBST administration when different forages or periods post hormonal administration were considered, however, the effect of the hormonal action was observed only on the dry matter digestibility of corn silage diets.
hydrolyzed bagasse; sugar cane; digestibility; growth hormone; sheep; corn silage; rBST
