The effect of dietary substituting different levels of sugarcane vinasses instead of molasses on feed intake, digestibility and ruminal parameters of lambs

The aim of this study was to compare the effect of pelleted diets containing different levels of sugarcane Vinasses on dry matter (DM) intake (DMI), digestibility and ruminal parameters in male lambs using a completely randomized design with 5 treatments and 5 replications. The experimental diets were containing 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20% levels of sugarcane Vinasses in DM instead of sugarcane molasses. The experiment lasted for 25 days, including 15 days of adaptation and 10 days for sampling. No significant differences were observed for digestion of DM in response to vinasse addition (P>0.05). Digestibility of crude protein at the level of 20% Vinasses was lower than that of other groups (P<0.05). Ether extract digestibility decreased at the level of 10% Vinasses compared to control, and increased in other diets (P<0.05). Digestibility of NDF at level of 15% Vinasses was higher than that of other levels (P<0.05). The amount of acetate, butyrate and total volatile fatty acids was decreased by increasing the level of Vinasses (P<0.05). In total, sugarcane vinasse can be substituted for molasses without any adverse effect on digestibility and ruminal fermentation up to 15% of DM in Lorry-Bakhtiari male lambs diet and preventing its release to the environment. However, in order to make a more correct conclusion, we must consider the efficiency of animal growth and the economic efficiency of the inclusion of sugarcane vinasse in the diet.