Nutritional and metabolic responses of sheep fed banana leaf hay treated with sodium hydroxide

Our objective was to evaluate the impacts of the treatment of banana leaf hay with levels of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) on intake, digestibility, feeding behavior, and blood parameters of sheep. Five ½ Santa Ines × Dorper sheep with body weight of 38.43 ± 4.38 kg were used in a Latin square design. Treatments were based on levels of NaOH in banana leaf hay, as follows: 0; 1.25; 2.5; 3.75 and 5%. Overall, the intakes of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, and total digestible nutrients increased linearly (P < 0.001) as a function of the dose NaOH. NaOH treatment of leaf hay linearly increased (P ≤ 0.04) the digestibility coefficients of organic matter and fiber, with an increase of 11 percentage points in fiber digestibility. However, we did not observe (P ≥ 0.33) effect of NaOH on crude protein digestibility. No effect was observed (P ≥ 0.07) on uric acid, creatinine, cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase or urea. Increasing the NaOH dose did not alter the eating, rumination, and idlling time of sheep (P ≥ 0.06). However, ruminating efficiency for dry matter and fiber were increased (P < 0.02) as a function of the increased NaOH level. Chewing characteristics (i.e., number of bolus/day, time/bolus, and chewing/bolus) were not influenced by the NaOH levels (P ≥ 0.06). Chemical treatment of banana leaf hay with NaOH increased feed intake and fiber digestibility in sheep and it did not affect indicators of hepatic injury, while reducing blood urea concentration, suggesting improved efficiency of nitrogen utilization.