NUTRIENTS INTAKE AND DIGESTIBILITY OF PALM KERNEL CAKE IN SHEEP DIET

The aim of this study was to find the optimum inclusion level of palm kernel cake in sheep diet. We used 18 castrated rams, fed diets with inclusion levels of palm kernel cake of 0%, 7.5%, 15% and 22.5% of the total diet. Animals were housed in metabolic cages for 21 days. Data were subjected to regression study with 5% significance for equations and regression coefficients. The inclusion of palm kernel cake caused reduction in DM, hemicellulose, NDF, CP, TDN, TC and MM (P <0.01) and no significant differences in cellulose, ADF and NFC (P> 0.05). The intake of EE and lignin increased (P<0.01). The fiber content of the diets added to the consumption of lignin by the animals caused reduction in digestibility of GE and all analyzed nutrients (DM, CP, hemicellulose, NDF; P>0.05). There was reduction in metabolizability of the diets due to increased GE of feces (P <0.01). Nitrogen balance was positive in all treatments. The inclusion of palm kernel cake above 7.5% in sheep diet causes reduction in DMI and digestibility of nutrients with possible performance losses, especially in high-performance animals.