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.