The objective of this work was to evaluate the use of soybean hulls and whole or
ground corn in the diet of crossbred dairy animals. In the experiment 1, the effects of
the use of two levels of soybean hulls in the diet (0 and 400.1 g / kg) and of whole or
ground maize, in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement, on the digestibility of the diets and on
the Performance and blood indicators of crossbred dairy calves during the lactation
phase. Newborn calves weighing 33.01 kg initial weight were fed the experimental
concentrates at will and received four liters of milk per day until reaching 60 days of
age. The use of soybean hull increased fiber consumption and digestibility in neutral
detergent and reduced the nonfibrous carbohydrate levels of the diet and total
digestible nutrients, which were also reduced by the use of whole corn. There was no
effect of the factors on the digestibility of the diets, the weight gain of the animals, the
blood indicators or on the costs associated with feeding. In experiment 2, the effect of
exclusive concentrate diets containing the inclusion of two levels of soybean hulls (0
and 500.8 g / kg) and whole or ground corn, in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement, on the
performance, behavior, blood indicators, and carcass and meat characteristics of
crossbred dairy calves that during lactation had no access to bulky feed. The 108
days old calves were confined during 177 days, after 21 days of adaptation, and
slaughtered at 9.6 months. At 8.5 months calves behavior was assessed during a
period of 48 hours. At the end of the experimental period animals were slaughtered in
commercial abattoir, and carcass and meat characteristics were evaluated. Corn
physical form did not affect nutrients digestibility and consumption. Soybean hulls
increased apparent digestibility of neutral detergent fiber, reduced the content of total
digestible nutrients of the diet, reduced the feed efficiency and the costs associated
with weight gain. The rumination time was not influenced by any of the factors,
however, bolus chewing time and the number of chews per bolus was higher for
animals fed diets containing whole corn. The use of soybean hulls increased the
bolus chewing time and reduced the number of bolus chewed per day. There was no
variation in slaughter and carcass weight, however, interaction was observed for
carcass yield. The use of soybean hulls increased Longissimus lumborum area and
muscle deposition in the carcass. There was no treatment effect on the main carcass
qualitative characteristics, however, the meat produced by the animals was very
tender. The use of soybean hulls and whole or ground corn enables the production of
quality meat and does not affect the main carcass quantitative traits.
|
