Evaluation of BRS Capiaçu Grass Silages Added With Ground Corn in Sheep Diet

This study evaluated the effect of adding ground corn to BRS Capiaçu elephant grass silage on the intake, digestibility, and performance of confined sheep. Twenty‐eight male lambs (26.29 ± 0.46 kg) were distributed in randomized blocks, testing four diets: 1) control (corn silage + concentrate—CS); 2) elephant grass silage harvested at 4 m (GS4m); 3) GS4m + 10% ground corn (GS4m + 10%MM); and 4) silage harvested at 2.5 m + 20% corn (GS2.5m + 20%MM). The GS2.5m + 20%MM and GS4m treatments promoted higher dry matter intake (43.04 and 40.44 g/kg BW, respectively), while the CS diet had lower intake (29.53 g/kg BW). The GS4m + 10% MM and CS diets showed higher neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility (590.95 and 581.11 g/kg). Water consumption was higher in the GS2.5m + 20% MM (2.59 L/day) and GS4m (2.42 L/day) treatments. There was no difference in final weight (34.95 kg), daily gain (0.212 kg), or total gain (8.72 kg). The CS diet had better feed efficiency (197.52 g/kg DM) compared to GS2.5m + 20% MM (141.92 g/kg DM). It is concluded that BRS Capiaçu grass should be harvested at 4 m, with or without 10% corn, being a nutritionally and economically viable alternative for confined sheep.