Productive performance and oxidative status of sheep fed diets supplemented with coffee pulp

Productive performance, rumen fermentation and oxidative status of sheep fed diets supplemented with coffee pulp ensiled with 5% molasses were evaluated. Thirty-four Blackbelly cross-breed sheep, 6 months old, mean weight 21.2 ± 0.63 kg, were assigned to three treatments T0: control treatment (n = 11), T1: treatment with 8% coffee pulp in the diet (n = 12), and T2: treatment with 16% coffee pulp in the diet (n = 11). Coffee pulp at the levels evaluated did not affect daily weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion (P > 0.05). However, water intake, acetic acid, butyric acid, and total volatile fatty acids significantly increased (P < 0.05) with the 16% coffee pulp diet. No differences (P > 0.05) were observed in the antioxidant capacity of the sheep's plasma; however, lipid peroxidation was lower for sheep fed with 16% coffee pulp. The present study concluded that a supplemented sheep diet with coffee pulp up to 16% coffee pulp did not affect their productive parameters but reduced oxidative stress.