Nutrients digestibility in goats at deferred pasture supplemented with concentrate levels

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of concentrate supplementation levels to crossbred goats under deferred grazing Urochloa mosambicensis (Hack) Daudy on digestibility of nutrients. We used 35 Boer crossbreed goats, not castrated, weaned with initial body weight (BW) 24.03 ? 2.91kg and approximately 120 days of age. The experimental design was completely randomized with five treatments and seven replications.Data were submitted to analysis of variance and realized the orthogonal contrast between the control treatment versus levels of supplementation and to study of effects of the supplementation levelswas done by regression analysis and polynomial contrasts, adopting 5% probability.After a 15-day adaptation period was initiated the experimental period, which was 90 days. The treatments were the control (protein salt supplement) and levels of supplementation with concentrate containing mesquite pod meal (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0% BW).The digestibility of dry matter and other nutrients were higher for supplementation levels in relation to the protein salt supplement. The digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, neutral detergent fiber and crude protein and TDN content presented quadratic behavior with maximum point at 2.0% supplementation, except for the digestibility of non-fibrous carbohydrates and ether extract that increased linearly.To deferred pasture commonly occurs decrease in crude protein concentration and digestibility of the NDF, due to the maturation process.The level of concentrate supplied 0.5% BW would not be indicated to increase forage intake, despite the digestibility improvement of the NDF and other nutritional components.