Growth and carcass characteristics of Santa Inês lambs fed diet supplemented with physic nut meal free of phorbol ester

The aim of this work was to evaluate the growth performance, carcass traits, hematological and biochemical variables of Santa Inês lambs fed diet supplemented with physic nut (Jatropha curcas) meal (PNM). Twenty-four intact male lambs [age: 120 ± 0.98 days; body weight (BW): 19.7 ± 2.4 kg] were assigned randomly to four concentrate mixtures. These mixtures were supplemented with 0 (CON), 100 (PNM100), 200 (PNM200), or 300 (PNM300) g/kg dry matter (DM) of PNM. The concentrate was offered at 1.2% BW, whereas lambs were fed Tifton (Cyndon dactylon CV. Tifton-85) hay ad libitum. Animals were weighed and blood collected every 15 days. At the end of the experiment, lambs were slaughtered and their carcasses were evaluated. Biochemical and hematological variables were not different among diets (P > 0.05). Similarly, dry matter intake was not different among diets (P > 0.05) and no acceptability problems were observed for the PNM. Average daily gain and carcass characteristics also did not differ (P > 0.05) between the treatments. No clinical symptoms of intoxication by physic nut were detected during the whole experimental period. Therefore, it may be inferred that the non-toxic PNM was shown to be a promising protein source for sheep nutrition and can be used in concentrations of up to 300 g/kg DM in concentrate mixture.