Utilização de gordura protegida de óleo de palma na alimentação de ovelhas em gestação e lactação

Abstract

The experiment was carried out at the Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná, from April to June 2015, with the aim of evaluating the effect of the protected fat of palm oil on gestation and lactation of sheep and maternal filial behavior. Four hundred crossbred ewes Santa Inês and Dorper were mated with a Dorper lamb and 42 lambs. Two concentrates, with and without palm oil-protected fat were provided, and sheep were supplemented at 1.0% body weight based on dry matter. Every 15 days, weighed and evaluated the state of body condition of the sheep, as well as the delivery. In the post-partum ambs, the behavior was evaluated in a direct manner, recording the length of time the lamb took to stand and time from birth to the first feeding. The birth weight was measured after the first feeding and every 15 days, the lambs were weighed, evaluated for the body condition, which was evaluated from birth to weaning, that is, the moment the lamb reached 17 kg live weight. The duration of the anestrous post weaning of the sheep was obtained through the manifestation of estrus, detected by a vasectomized male, whose sternum region was impregnated with a mix of chess powder and vegetable oil. These observations were made from weaning to the manifestation of the 1st estrus. There was no difference between the treatments, for live weight, body condition score and average daily gain. However, in the lactation phase, a difference was observed for ewes who received protected fat from palm oil in the diet, presenting superiority in the aspect of sheep's body score compared to those who did not receive protected fat. The variable that assessed the total time of birth at weaning showed that sheep that received protected fat in the diet weaned their lambs earlier and also had a shorter time of anestrus after weaning compared to sheep that did not receive protected fat from palm oil in the diet. Lipid supplementation did not influence any of the variables related to maternal filial behavior. Therefore, it is concluded that the use of protected palm oil fat in sheep lactation presents improvements in productive and reproductive parameters.