PERFORMANCE AND NUTRITIONAL QUALITY OF PUMA HYBRIDS AND PRODUCTION EFFECTS IN SHEEP

Background: Due to climate change, forage production conditions are unstable, which makes it necessary to have corn varieties that are resistant to climate variations, as well as to the different types of soil that prevail in certain regions, as is the case of Puma hybrids developed by UNAM and INIFAP. It is also important to explore their yield and potential as animal feed. Objective: To determine the agricultural yield, nutritional quality and in vitro fermentation kinetics of Puma corn hybrids and their impact on some productive indicators in pregnant sheep. Methodology: The plant components: leaf, stem and cob of the corn hybrids, Tlaoli Puma, Tsiri Puma and Centli Puma, were evaluated to determine the yield in green matter and dry matter, percentage of dry matter, percentage of protein, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF). As well as the gas production and in vitro digestibility of the corn hybrids and the effect on weight and body condition changes, and the concentrations of glucose and β hydroxybutyrate, of sheep fed diets containing silages of these hybrids in the second half of gestation. Results: The yield of green matter and dry matter, as well as the percentage of dry matter were similar in the three Puma corn hybrids (P > 0.05). Tlaoli Puma and Centli Puma hybrids had the highest leaf percentages (P < 0.05), while in the percentages of stem and cob no differences were found among the three hybrids (P > 0.05). The crude protein content was similar among the Puma hybrids (P > 0.05). The change in weight and body condition, as well as the levels of glucose and β hydroxybutyrate of the sheep did not differ among the Puma hybrids (P > 0.05). No significant differences were observed in the insoluble fraction in the three plant components of the Puma hybrids. In vitro digestibility of dry matter, organic matter and in vitro digestibility of neutral detergent fiber did not vary among Puma hybrids, nor among plant components. Implications: The three Puma hybrids showed good forage yields, as well as nutritional quality and digestibility, which was reflected in good productive parameters of sheep, indicating that they can be used in nutritional strategies for ruminants. Conclusions: The Puma hybrids show similar performance, nutritional quality, gas production and in vitro digestibility independent of the plant components (leaf, stem and cob), which favors the productive and metabolic state of pregnant sheep fed with diets containing these silages.