This study evaluated histological changes in the digestive organs and kidneys of sheep fed sugarcane silage augmented with detoxified castor bean meal (CBM). Forty Santa Inês sheep (initial weight 20 ± 0.3 kg) were adapted to the experimental regime for 14 days, after which data were collected for 60 days. The treatments consisted of S0: sugarcane silage (SC); S5: SC augmented with 5% CBM; S10: SC augmented with 10% CBM; S15: SC augmented with 15% CBM; and S20: SC augmented with 20% CBM. After 74 days of confinement, the animals were slaughtered, and then fragments of the liver, rumen, intestine, and kidney were collected for histomorphometric analyses. The intake of dry matter and the average weight gain increased linearly with the level of CBM (P <0.05), as did the rumen absorption area, the height of the papillae and the width of the papillae. The thickness of the keratinized portion of the epithelium was not influenced, Thus, no effect was detected of the anti-nutritional factor of CBM on this organ. In the intestine, CBM increased the height of the villi and the number of goblet cells. However, S20 caused some kidney damage and decreased hepatic glycogen stock, but not sufficiently to reduce performance. Thus, augmentation of sugarcane with CBM, up to 20%, is viable in feeding sheep.

O experimento foi desenvolvido para avaliar os efeitos da inclusão de níveis de farelo de mamona destoxificado sobre a composição químico-bromatológica, as características fermentativas e as perdas de matéria seca da silagem de cana-de-açúcar. Os tratamentos consistiam em quatro níveis (0, 7, 14 e 21% da matéria natural) de inclusão do farelo de mamona. O delineamento foi inteiramente ao acaso, com cinco repetições. Foram usados silos de PVC, com 50cm de altura e 10cm de diâmetro, para a produção das silagens, que foram abertos após 60 dias. A densidade de forragem nos silos foi correspondente a 750kg de matéria natural/m3. Os silos foram pesados no início e ao final do período experimental para quantificar as perdas por gases e efluentes. A inclusão de farelo de mamona elevou os teores de MS e proteína bruta e reduziu os teores de fibra em detergente neutro, N-NH3, etanol e as perdas por gases e efluentes das silagens, não ocasionando efeito nos valores de pH. A fermentação alcoólica durante a ensilagem foi controlada com a inclusão do aditivo.

This experiment was designed to evaluate the effects of the inclusion of detoxified castor bean meal (CM) content on the chemical-bromatological composition, as well as the fermentation characteristics and dry matter losses of sugarcane silage. The treatments consisted of four levels (0, 7, 14 and 21% natural matter) of addition of castor bean meal. The design was completely randomized, with five replicates. The material was ensiled in PVC silos of 50-cm in height and 10-cm in diameter, which were opened after 60 days. The density of fodder maintained in the silos was equal to 750kg of natural matter/m3. In order to quantify the gas and effluent losses, the silos were weighed at the beginning and at the end of the experiment. The addition of castor bean meal has increased the levels of DM and crude protein and reduced the levels of neutral detergent fiber, N-NH3, ethanol, and gas and effluent losses from silages, but did not affect pH values. During ensiling, alcoholic fermentation was controlled with the inclusion of the additive.