Four male equines averaging 3.5 years old and live weight of 400-450 kg were distributed in a 4 x 4 Latin square (period x animal) experimental design. The inclusion of canola meal levels in diets were 0.0; 2.5; 4.5 and 7.0%, replacing respectively 0, 35, 65 and 100% of crude protein (CP) from soybean meal. The diets were isoproteic (13% CP) and isocaloric (4250 kcal/kg). The total fecal collection method was used for the determination of the nutrient digestibility coefficients. There was no effect of the substitution levels of soybean meal crude protein by canola meal for none of the analyzed nutrients. The average obtained values for the apparent digestibility of dry matter, gross energy, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber were 64.04, 55.82, 62.89, 51.20 and 42.05%, respectively. The concentrate for equines can be formulated with total substitution of soybean meal crude protein by canola meal (inclusion level of 7%) without negatively affects the nutrient digestibilities, becoming as an alternative protein source in the diets of these animal species.
canola meal; coefficient of digestibility; equine
