Wood vinegar for sheep receiving high-concentrate diets

Abstract. The antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties of refined wood vinegar make it a promising product for ruminant nutrition. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of increasing oral doses (0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 mL d−1) of wood vinegar (WV) on the intake, apparent digestibility, ingestive behavior, water balance, ruminal parameters, serum biochemistry, nitrogen balance, and physiology of sheep fed with high levels of concentrate. We used five castrated male sheep, 1/2 Dorper × 1/2 Santa Inês, with an average age of 36 months and an average weight of 59.34±5.73 kg, in a Latin-square design. The animals were provided a total mixed ration formulated at a roughage-to-concentrate ratio of 20:80, which was offered twice daily following the delivery of half the daily dose of WV. There was no effect (P>0.05) of WV on dry-matter intake. Increasing WV levels linearly increased (P<0.05) the neutral-detergent fiber intake and apparent digestibility of crude protein in the sheep's diet. Feeding time was increased (P<0.05) by increasing the supply of WV to the sheep; pH values decreased (P<0.05), and ruminal ammonia nitrogen increased (P<0.05) with an increasing dose of WV. The increase in the WV supplied did not influence the water absorbed and nitrogen retained by the lambs (P>0.05). The supply of WV to lambs altered the concentrations of total protein, globulin, urea, and gamma-glutamyltransferase (P<0.05). It may be advisable to offer up to 40 mL d−1 of WV to sheep fed high-concentrate diets.