Alimento fermentado elaborado con semillas de Canavalia ensiformis sobre el crecimiento y la canal de corderos Pelibuey.

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of a fermented food, made with Canavalia ensiformis seeds on growth performance and carcass characteristics of Pelibuey lambs (n=18). A completely randomized design with twofactor and repeated measures on a factor was used. The factors were the type of diet [unfermented food with canavalia (UFC), fermented food with canavalia (FC) and unfermented food without canavalia (UFWC)] and number of evaluation period. The variables evaluated were body weight (BW), average daily weight gain (ADG), average daily intake of dry matter, crude protein and metabolizable energy, as well as weight carcass and carcass yield. Type of diet, period number and type of diet x period number interaction affected (P<0.01) intake of all nutrients studied, BW and ADG. Type of diet affected (P<0.01) carcass weight. The FC diet allowed greater ADG (P<0.01) compared to UFC diet. Lambs fed with a diet UFWC had the highest ADG (P<0.05). In conclusion, lambs feeding diets containing canavalia seed meal allowed positive changes in growth and carcass weight; however, these changes were smaller in magnitude compared to those obtained with a diet without canavalia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]