Title:	Succulent forages sustain lamb performance and hydration without compromising thermoregulation in semi-arid feedlots.
Authors:	FIGUEIRÊDO, P. I. de MORAIS, I. M. de V. SILVA FILHO, J. R. V. da AMORIM, J. dos S. NOGUEIRA, D. M. ARAUJO, G. G. L. de VOLTOLINI, T. V.
Affiliation:	PRISCILA IZIDRO DE FIGUEIRÊDO, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL RURAL DE PERNAMBUCO; ITALO MARCOS DE VASCONCELOS MORAIS, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DA GRANDE DOURADOS; JOSÉ RENALDO VILAR DA SILVA FILHO, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO VALE DO SÃO FRANCISCO; JAÍNE DOS SANTOS AMORIM, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO VALE DO SÃO FRANCISCO; DANIEL MAIA NOGUEIRA, CPATSA; GHERMAN GARCIA LEAL DE ARAUJO, CPATSA; TADEU VINHAS VOLTOLINI, CPATSA.
Date Issued:	2026
Citation:	Scientia Agricola, v. 83, e20250061, 2026.
Description:	Forage watermelon (Citrullus lanatus var. citroides) and spineless cactus (Opuntia stricta) are succulent forages with high water content, making them potential food sources for thermoregulation and performance of confined sheep in tropical environment. This study evaluated animal performance, intake and digestibility of dry matter and nutrients, water and nitrogen balances, ingestive behavior, and thermoregulatory responses of sheep fed diets with spineless cactus or forage watermelon as partial replacements for Tifton 85 hay (Cynodon dactylon). The treatments were: 1 – Tifton 85 hay-based diet (HAY); 2 – spineless cactus-based diet (CAC) and 3 – forage watermelon-based diet (FWM). Ten replicates per treatment were used in a completely randomized design. Male, non-castrated sheep of undefined breed, aged three months with initial body weight of 21.20 ± 2.41 kg, were used. Dry matter (DM), total carbohydrate, and neutral detergent fiber intake and digestibility were not influenced by diets. However, FWM resulted in lower crude protein intake and digestibility compared to CAC. Diets with succulent forages reduced free water intake and increased total water ingestion. Nitrogen intake, absorption, and balance were lower for FWM than CAC. Average daily gain, final body weight and feeding efficiency were also not influenced by dietary treatments. Feeding time was longer for CAC than HAY, while physiological responses remained unchanged across treatments. Including forage watermelon or cactus increased dietary water intake without negatively affecting water balance, average daily gain, final body weight, nor thermoregulation when used as partial replacements for Tifton 85 hay in feedlot sheep diets.
Thesagro:	Produção Animal Forragem Ovino
NAL Thesaurus:	Citrullus lanatus var. citroides Forage Forage production Opuntia stricta Animal production
Keywords:	Melancia forrageira Palma forrageira sem espinhos Semiarido Forragens suculentas Digestibilidade da matéria seca
DOI:	https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-992X-2025-0061
Type of Material:	Artigo de periódico
Access:	openAccess
Appears in Collections:	Artigo em periódico indexado (CPATSA)