The aim of this work was to evaluate the nutrient consumption and performance by animals fed with diets based on in natura or hydrolyzed sugarcane. Eighteen lambs, with approximately 22±2.4 kg body weight, were evaluated in randomized block design with 6 repetitions; the weight of the animals was utilized as a criterion for the distribution in the blocks. Animals received complete diets containing 50% forage (sugarcane in natura, treated with 0.5 and 0.9% lime), and 50% concentrate. Diets were formulated in order to meet animal maintenance demands and gains of 150 g/day. The variables evaluated were: nutrient consumption and digestibility, and animal weight gains. The addition of calcium hydroxide increased the digestibility of neutral detergent fiber. No alteration was observed on nutrient consumption nor improvement on animal weight gain fed on diets based on sugarcane treated with calcium hydroxide, at 0.5 and 0.9%. Sugarcane with the addition of calcium hydroxide can be provided after 24 hours of storage, without reducing animal performance.
Saccharum; hydrolysis; ruminants; alkali treatment
