Hematological and biochemical parameters of lambs fed with refused melon fruit as a substitute for corn in high-grain diets

ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate the effect of replacing grain corn (GC) with refused melon fruit (RMF) in the diet on hematological and biochemical parameters of feedlot lambs fed with high grain diets. For this, 30 Santa Inês male lambs, not castrated, with an initial weight of 22.7±1.1kg, and 120 days of age, were confined for 71 days. The animals were distributed in a completely randomized design with five treatments: 0% (control, no RMF), 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40% RMF in the dry matter of the total diet. The replacement of GC with RMF did not influence (P>0.05) the values of the hematological parameters. We also found no (P>0.05) effect of replacing GC with RMF on the values of total protein, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and glucose of the lambs. However, the replacement of GC with RMF influenced the levels of urea, aspartate aminotransferase, and gamma-glutamyl transferase in the serum of the lambs (P<0.05). The replacement of GC with RMF did not influence most of the hematological and biochemical parameters of the lambs, however, it decreased average daily gain. Therefore, we recommended replacing 30% of whole grain corn with refused melon fruit in the diet of feedlot lambs.