Rodrigues, 2010. Tese (Doutor em Ciências Veterinárias) - Univ. Estad. Ceara, Faculdade de Veterinaria. Fortaleza, 185 p

The objectives were: 1) assess the reproductive responses of ewes fed increasing levels of dehydrated cashew apple pomace (25, 50 and 75%-BCD) during the mating period, 2) check the return to cyclicity in sheep fed postpartum period prescribed in the diet include BCD, 3) assess body development and puberty age of lambs fed 50% inclusion of BCD diet, and 4) to verify the performance and carcass characteristics of crossbred lambs Morada Nova v. white x Santa Inês BCD-fed as the sole source bulky. The first goal was reached after observing that the number of females in estrus, pregnancy rate and calving rate were similar between groups (p> 0.05). The prolificacy was higher in the G-50%(p< 0.05). The offspring of the G-75% were heavier males predominated (p< 0.05). The supplement intake in the G-25% was lower than the G-50% BCD (p< 0.05). P4 levels were lower in G-25%(p< 0.001) no difference between the other two groups (p> 0.05). Aimed at the second goal, after delivery, ewes were confined with their pups and fed with 75% elephant grass+ 25% commercial concentrate (DI) or 50% of BDC+ 25% elephant grass+ 25% commercial concentrate (DII), for 90 days. The return time of the estrous cycle, number of ewes in estrus, pregnancy rate and prolificacy was similar between groups (p> 0.05) but more sheep DII group returned to cyclicity (p< 0.05) while group DI lost more weight (p< 0.05). For the third objective, the descendants of the females used in experiment I were confined and fed with 75% elephant grass+ 25% concentrate (DI) or 50% BCD+ 25% elephant grass+ 25% concentrate (DII) of weaning to puberty. After 90 days, the lambs of DII had higher PE (p< 0.001). The diet did not affect levels of testosterone (p> 0.05). Debridement occurred at ages similar between groups (p> 0.05). In grade II and V of the debridement PTV was higher in animals of DII (p< 0.05). The first ejaculation occurred at 192 and 230 days of age (p> 0.05) for DI and DII, respectively. For the fourth objective, the descendants of experiment II were fed with sorghum silage as a source or BCD voluminous to 25kg and then slaughtered. The feed group fed BCD was better (p< 0.05) compared to group sorghum silage. There was no significant effect in the body characteristics in vivo or in qualitative characteristics of the carcass. Lambs fed BCD had a cold dressing higher (p< 0.05) and increased fat deposition in the lumbar region. We conclude that the inclusion of BCD diet eased the losses without changing the physical responses during the reproductive period of mating or duration of postpartum anestrus in ewes, as well as the age of puberty their descendants can still be a viable alternative termination of crossbred lambs, when used as forage in the northeast