Desempenho e características de carcaça de caprinos e ovinos terminados em caatinga enriquecida com Capim buffel (Cenchrus ciliaris L cv. biloela).

Abstract

The vegetation in the area of caatinga has its forage value and manipulation enhanced through the enrichment of buffel grass, a sort of grass which is well adapted to this region and is able to keep adequate levels of animal production in these areas. The animal performance and the characteristics of weight and carcass yield depend on the availability and digestibility of nutrients, the ingested food, allowing a larger or smaller use of these nutrients in order to gain weight. The experiment was carried out at Lameirão farm, which belongs to Federal University of Campina Grande – UFCG/CSTR, campus of Patos – Paraíba – Brazil. Twentyfour animals, twelve caprines, F1 (Boer x SRD) and twelve Santa Ines ovines, with initial body weight of 20 kg, were used. The animals had access to pasture from 8.00 to 17.00. The experimental area was 2,4ha, divided into four paddocks of 0,6ha each, two paddocks for each animal species. The animals were slaughtered after reaching 30 kg. Then, the carcasses were weighted and had their yield calculated. Subjective evaluations and morphometric measures were performed on the left carcass and left half carcass. The caprines presented organic matter digestibility and consumption and daily weight gain of 56,66%; 537,5g and 93 kg exceeding the values found for the ovines which were 51,34%, 465,32g and 51,80g. There were not any differences on the carcass weight and yield, although the ovines presented a better conformation than the caprines.