The aim of the present study was to determine the maximun level of fat, that could be added in high forage diets without affecting intake and forage utilization. The basal diet (T0) consisted of ground weeping lovegrass hay to which, saccharose, urea, blood meal, bone ash, and macro-microminerals were added. For fat supplemented diets, tallow was added to enhance lipid level to 6 (T6) and 12 % (T12). Diets were fed at random to three groups of three wethers each (26.46 ± 3.37 kg). DM intake, DM, CP, NDF, ADF digestibility, urine pH, cholesterol and triglycerides were measured. Data were analysed using a complete randomized design with 3 repetitions. The significance between means was tested by Tuckey’s test at 5 % level. According to increased levels of fat a great variability inside treatments was observed. T12 lowered intake (18.8 vs. 53.36 and 49.17 for T12, T0 and T6). Fiber digestibility (NDF 53.0; 47.0 y 40.9 y ADF 47.5; 42.2 y 33.6 for T0, T6 and T12 respectively) decreased with level of fat added but differences, were not significant and are not enough to explain 65 % in intake depression. Triglycerides and cholesterol in T6 were greater than T0. There were no statistical differences between other analyzed fractions. According to the present study it seems improbable to explain intake depression in the highest fat level due to the digestive process itself.
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