Nutritional effects and feeding behavior in ewes fed with biscuit bran and cashew nut bran, with different energy levels

This research evaluated the effects of biscuit bran and cashew nut bran as energy source and additional energy level on intake, digestibility, feeding behavior, energy partitioning, N balance, and blood parameters on ewes. Twenty Morada Nova cull ewes breed (average age of 3 years old and initial body weight of 30.1 ± 3.56 kg) were distributed in a completely randomized design in a 2 × 2 factorial scheme of two energy sources (biscuit bran vs. cashew nut bran) and two levels of energy above 10% and 25% of the recommended energy requirements. The inclusion of cashew nut bran above 10% of the recommended energy promoted a lower crude protein (CP) and ethereal extract intake ( P < 0.01) than cashew nut bran above 25% of the recommended energy. The interaction between energy source × energy level did not affect digestibility and energy partition on ewes ( P > 0.05). The diet containing cashew nut bran above 10% of the recommended energy presented lower metabolizable energy intake and energy balance ( P < 0.05). Regarding N balance, the cashew nut bran diet above 10% of the recommended energy decreased N intake ( P = 0.01), N absorbed ( P < 0.01), and N balance ( P = 0.04). Partial replacement of corn with the byproduct biscuit bran or cashew nut bran is a possible nutritional strategy. Ewes fed with 210 g/kg of biscuit bran presented greater CP intake and improvement of the protein use with the reduction of plasma levels of urea.