Twenty sheep were allotted in metallic crates during 15 days, to determine the effects of different levels of poultry litter on consumption and nutrient digestibility, nitrogen balance and on the major elements apparent availability. The animals were distributed in four treatments in a blocks design, with five replicates. Tifton 85 (Cynodon spp) hay was the forage source and poultry litter was composed of chopped corn cobs and coffee hulls in the ratio of 1:1. The diets were isoprotein with four levels of hay (80, 60, 40 and 20%), four levels of poultry litter (0, 20, 40 and 60%) and 20% concentrate, as fed basis. The intakes of DM, OM, TDN, TC, NSC, CP and EE of the total diet were not affected by treatments, while the intakes of NDF and ADF decreased with the increase of poultry litter level in the diet. The digestibility coefficients of TC, NSC and EE increased from 59.7 to 64.6%, 88.5 to 93.2% and 1.5 to 30.2%, respectively, with the increase of poultry litter level from 0 to 60% of the diet. The digestibility coefficients of DM and OM did not change, with mean values of 55.8 and 61.9%, and those of NDF and CP decreased from 52.0 to 39.4% and 77.5 to 58.0%, respectively, with the increase of poultry litter level from 0 to 60% of the diet. The nitrogen balance changed from negative to slightly positive with the increase of poultry litter, although high urinary excretions of nitrogen were observed in all treatments. The 40 and 60% of poultry litter in the diet increased the supply of crude protein and magnesium, compared to the forage, and supplied more than 100% of the requirements of Ca, P, Na and K to the animals. However, the apparent availabilities of Ca and P were low and negative, respectively.
digestibility; major elements; nitrogen balance; nutritive value; poultry litter; voluntary intake
