Sweet potato (Ipomea batatas) feed affects intake, digestibility and nitrogen retention of ovine fed with ryegrass hay (Lolium multiflorum Lam)

ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate sweet potato feed as an alternative energy supplement for ovine. A latin-square design was used assess the effects of feeding animals 0, 0.5, 1 and 1.5% their body weight in well ryegrass hay (Lolium multiflorum) twice daily, mineral salt water ad libitum. During this 8 males were housed metabolic cages with urine feces collectors. Each round experimentation consisted 14 days adaptation followed by 5 evaluating diet, left-overs, feces, determine intake, digestibility, nitrogen retention. The results show a linear increase intake hay, FDN, DM OM because increasing supplementation levels. Similarly, we observed digestibility. Additionally, BP digestibility decreased considering excretion. In conclusion, is viable ovine receiving since it increased albeit reducing NDF