Production Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, and Milk Composition of Dairy Ewes Supplemented with Crushed Sunflower Seeds and Sunflower Seed Silage in Corn Silage-Based Diets

SIMPLE SUMMARY: In countries such as Mexico and the Unites States, sunflowers can be planted earlier than corn, and can tolerate moderate frosts. Concerning sunflower silage, its feeding value could be up to 80% similar to that of corn silage. The use of sunflower silage for ruminant feeding represents an alternative to the use of corn silage, especially when environmental conditions are adverse for corn crops. Sunflower seeds can also be a protein alternative to soybean by-products. This study determined production performance, nutrient digestibility, and milk composition of dairy ewes fed with crushed sunflower seeds (SF) and sunflower seed silage (SFS) in corn silage-based diets. Compared to control, SF and SFS increased intake and digestibility of fiber components, such as neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF). Nitrogen balance, milk yield, milk fat yield, and milk protein yield were similar between treatments. Results demonstrated that crushed sunflower seeds and ensiled seeds do not change significantly productive parameters of dairy sheep. In corn-silage based diets, both crushed and ensiled sunflower seeds can be used in dairy sheep diets as alternatives to typical protein feedstuffs, such as soybean meal. ABSTRACT: This study determined production performance, nutrient digestibility, and milk composition of dairy ewes supplemented with crushed sunflower seeds (Helianthus annuus) and sunflower seed silage in corn silage-based diets. Six ewes were grouped in a double 3 × 3 Latin square design with three periods of 21 days. All treatments were based on ad libitum corn silage. Control diet was based on alfalfa hay (333 g/kg DM), sorghum grain (253 g/kg DM), triticale grain (200 g/kg DM), soybean meal (167 g /kg DM), and vitamin and mineral premix (47 g/kg DM). Sunflower seeds (SF) and sunflower seed silage (SFS) treatments consisted of alfalfa hay (333 g/kg DM), sorghum grain (267 g/kg DM), triticale grain (100 g/kg DM), soybean meal (167 g /kg DM), SF or SFS (87 g/kg DM) and vitamin and mineral premix (47 g/kg DM). Compared to control, SF and SFS increased intake and digestibility of fiber components, such as neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF). Body weight, nitrogen balance, milk yield, milk fat yield, milk protein yield, lactose yield and milk urea N were similar between treatments. Overall, results demonstrated that crushed sunflower seeds and ensiled seeds do not change significantly productive parameters of dairy sheep.