Parkia platycephala pod meal as a total replacement for Tifton-85 hay in high-concentrate diets for lambs: ingestive behavior, physiological, and metabolic parameters

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the total replacement of Tifton-85 hay with faveira (Parkia platycephala) pod meal on the ingestive behavior, physiological, and metabolic parameters of finishing lambs fed high-concentrate diets (faveira pod meal, 30%; whole corn grain, 20%; soybean meal, 14.5%; wheat bran, 33.2%; mineral salt, 2% and limestone, 0.3%). Fourteen Santa Inês lambs, 150 days old and with an initial body weight of 21 ± 2.4 kg, were assigned in a completely randomized design to two treatments (DTH: diet with Tifton-85 hay and DFP: diet with faveira pod meal replacing Tifton-85 hay), with seven replicates. Lambs fed the DTH diet spent more time ruminating (P < 0.001). Physiological parameters of the lambs did not differ according to the experimental diets (P ≥ 0.209). It was observed that the DFP diet reduced water intake (P = 0.048), water intake from feed (P = 0.029), and total water intake (P = 0.045). DFP diet resulted in higher plasma glucose concentration (P = 0.005), whereas the DTH led to an increase in urea concentration (P = 0.023). The DFP diet also resulted in a lower urine pH (P = 0.004). Faveira pod meal can totally replace Tifton-85 hay in high-concentrate diets for finishing lambs, as it does not compromise ingestive behavior or physiological parameters and leads to better nutrient utilization from the diet.