Evaluation of Robenidine to Defaunate Pelibuey Lambs and the Production and Digestibility

Some products used against coccidia as feed additives in ruminants affect the production. However, no information was found on the effect of robenidine as defaunation agent on the intake or apparent digestibility of nutrients in the Pelibuey lamb. The experiment comprised three trials, in the first, eighteen lambs (average weight of 20 kg) were use to assess production. In the second, nine Pelibuey crossbred males (average weight 20 kg) were used. Animals were individually lodged and fed a corn stalk based ration and concentrate. The protected robenidine was added at 0, 33 and 66 mg kg-1 live weight. The Average Daily Gain (ADG), intake and in vivo apparent digestibility of dry matter, organic matter and structural carbohydrates was assessed. The ADG, daily intake and digestibility were similar among treatments (p>0.05). In the third trial, three rumen cannulated lambs were used in a 3x3 Latin square arrangement. No effect was observed in the pH or number of total protozoas (p>0.05). The robenidine has no effect on production parameters or the rumen fauna.