Degradabilidad in situ y digestibilidad intestinal in vitro de subproductos del aguacate (Persea americana), mango (Mangifera indica) y caña de azúcar Saccharum officinarum) como alimentos no convencionales para animales rumiantes

Abstract

The study evaluated the use of agro-industrial by-products from mango, avocado, and sugarcane in ruminant feeding, highlighting their potential as energy sources. In Ecuador, these by-products come from industrial waste of juices, canned foods, and biofuels. Samples of these raw materials were analyzed by drying and grinding them to determine their chemical composition, in situ degradability, and in vitro digestibility in rumen-cannulated sheep. Avocado had a crude protein content of 4.8%, while mango and sugarcane bagasse averaged 2.0%. The ether extract was 14% in avocado and 3% in mango and bagasse. Sugarcane bagasse showed the highest crude fiber content (34%), in contrast to mango and avocado, which registered 13%. In energy terms, the by- products offered between 4.5 and 5 Mcal/kg of gross energy, surpassing the evaluated feeds, which had 4 Mcal/kg. Mango was the most efficient, with a soluble fraction of 76% and an effective degradation of 87%, while sugarcane bagasse showed the lowest degradability (27%) and digestibility (37%). In summary, the by-products of mango, avocado, and sugarcane stood out as highly degradable and digestible energy sources, with sugarcane bagasse showing lower performance in terms of ruminal and digestive utilization.