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

abstract

  • 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 33530kg 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.

published proceedings

  • ARQUIVO BRASILEIRO DE MEDICINA VETERINARIA E ZOOTECNIA

author list (cited authors)

  • Chizzotti, F., Pereira, O. G., Valadares Filho, S. C., Tedeschi, L. O., Ribeiro, K. G., & Pereira, D. H.

citation count

  • 3

complete list of authors

  • Chizzotti, FHM||Pereira, OG||Valadares Filho, SC||Tedeschi, LO||Ribeiro, KG||Pereira, DH

publication date

  • August 2010