Effect of blocks with calcium propionate on lamb productive performance and in vitro GHG

Efecto de bloques con propionato de calcio sobre respuestas productivas en corderos y GEI in vitro

Objective. Evaluate multinutritional blocks with and without calcium propionate (Pr-Ca) in digestibility and live weight changes of lambs and in the green house emission in vitro. Materials and methods. Twelve sheep were used (20.17 ± 2.35 Katahdin x criollo) in three treatments: Basal diet (BD 70% oat straw, 30% concentrate), BD+ Block without Ca-Pr and BD+ Block with 1.5% Ca-Pr, it was evaluated for 50 days. In vitro gas production (GP) and kinetic parameters were estimated (Vmax, S, Lag) according to consumption. Digestibility, CH₄ and CO₂ in vitro and in vivo were estimated. Results. The dry matter intake was the lowest (p<0.0001) in lambs without block (753 g/d) compared lambs supplemented with block without (839 g) or with Ca-Pr (828 g) by including blocks increased methane (16.16 and 16.18 g/d; 0 and 1.5% Ca-Pr respectively) than with BD (13.93 g/d). The GP in vitro was higher (p=0.0001) with the BD (380.76, ml) than with blocks without differences among blocks (335.76 and 341.13 ml, 0 and 1.5% Ca-Pr respectively), and the BD had higher (p=0.0001) production of CH₄ (47.16 mol) and CO₂ (200.04 mol) than with blocks (42.25 and 41.58 mol CH4; 179.21 and 176.39 mol CO₂; 0 and 1.5% Ca-Pr respectively). Conclusions. Block supplementation improved dry matter intake. Blocks reduced in vitro gas production and increased digestibility
by reducing CH₄ and CO₂.