Is the inclusion of carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) pulp in the concentrate of weaned light lambs worth it?

This study aimed at evaluating the effects of dietary carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) pulp, a by-product fruit processing industry, on light lamb performances, time budget behaviour, coefficients total tract apparent digestibility (CTTAD) and blood metabolites. A 144 crossbred lambs with 41 ± 5.5 days age were monitored in two consecutive batches. They housed groups 6 (3 females 3 males) balanced according to weaning body-weight assigned one three isoenergetic isoproteic concentrate-based diets: C0 (without pulp), C15 (150 g/kg pulp) C30 (300 pulp). At 50, 65 80 age, feed, faeces samples collected, behaviour was recorded. The type concentrate did not have effect growth intake (P > 0.05). However, feed conversion ratio (FCR) higher for compared < behaviours affected by diets spent lying resting standing static increased throughout fattening period 0.05), but self-grooming, feeding, exploration, movement positive social interactions decreased Regarding CTTAD dry matter (DM), organic (OM) crude protein (CP), it noted that had lowest these nutrients respect Furthermore, condensed tannins (CT) content DM, OM, CP phosphorus, which lower 50 than rest control Blood metabolites experimental urea concentrations significantly from while glucose concomitantly In conclusion, pulp inclusion up 300 does negatively affect animal daily gains, activity budgets metabolic nutritional status, reduces diet increases FCR. Although 150 energy-rich weaned FCR keeping gain, this strategy would be good trade-off between performances circular economy principles.