Intake, digestibility, and performance of steers fed diets based on two corn silage hybrids and two concentrate levels

Autor: F.H.M. Chizzotti, O.G. Pereira, S.C. Valadares Filho, L.O. Tedeschi, K.G. Ribeiro, D.H. Pereira
Jazyk: English<br />Portuguese
Rok vydání: 2010
Předmět:
Zdroj: Arquivo Brasileiro de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Vol 62, Iss 4, Pp 868-874 (2010)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 1678-4162
0102-0935
DOI: 10.1590/S0102-09352010000400016
Popis: A trial involving a 2x2 factorial arrangement of treatments was conducted to evaluate two corn silage hybrids (Agromen, AGN35-A42) and (Bayer, A3663) and concentrate levels (25 and 50%) on animal performance. Twenty-four Holstein x Zebu crossbred steers, averaging 335±30kg of BW, were distributed in six randomized blocks to evaluate intake, digestibility, and performance. Treatments consisted of 75% corn silage A + 25% concentrate, 50% corn silage A + 50% concentrate, 75% corn silage B + 25% concentrate, and 50% corn silage B + 50% concentrate (dry matter basis); formulated to be isonitrogenous (13% crude protein, dry matter basis). There were no differences in the daily intakes of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), and crude protein. Additionally, there was a concentrate effect on non-fiber carbohydrates and total digestible nutrients intakes, and on total apparent digestibility of DM and OM, with higher intakes for steers fed diets with 50% of concentrate. However, average daily gain (ADG) was not influenced by treatments. The utilization of both corn silage hybrids in association with 25% of concentrate is a good option to feed crossbred steers with ADG close to 1.0kg in order to reduce diet cost.
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