PRODUCTIVE BEHAVIOR OF PELIBUEY SHEEP IN GRAZING SUPPLEMENTED WITH Guazuma ulmifolia Lam. FODDER

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the productive behavior of Pelibuey sheep supplemented with Guazuma ulmifolia Lam. fodder, in the tropics. The research was carried out in Cuajinicuilapa, Guerrero. Twenty-one (21) Pelibuey breed male sheep (Ovis aries) were used, of five months of age, 20±1.5 kg of weight. The sheep were fed with grazing in star grass (Cynodon nlemfuensis) pastures. And supplemented with three treatments: 0, 25 and 50% of G. ulmifolia in proportion to the requirement of dry matter. The variables evaluated were: voluntary consumption of G. ulmifolia fodder, weight gain (Torrey EQB-200, with ± 0.1 kg), and dietary efficiency. Differences were found (p=0.05) in fodder consumption; when it was supplemented with 50% G. ulmifolia, 20 % higher consumption of total DM was generated, improving the dietary conversion and productive behavior of the sheep. The use of G. ulmifolia as fodder species or food supplement is a viable alternative to avoid weight loss in the animals, under conditions of grazing in the tropics.