<b>Substitution of corn grain by wheat middlings or corn gluten feed in the finishing bulls diet</b> - DOI: 10.4025/actascianimsci.v29i1.251

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate the substitution of finely ground (GC) corn by wheat middlings (WM) or dried corn gluten feed (CGF) in finishing feedlot diets. Thirty-six yearling bulls (382 kg average initial live weight; 14 months old) were fed during 87 days. The diets contained 24% grass silage and 76% concentrate, formulated with dried citrus pulp, soybean meal, urea, mineral-vitamin mix, sodium bicarbonate, sodium monensin, and one of the energy sources tested. The substitution of wheat middlings for corn increased NDF intake (p<0.05). However, no effect was observed on other measured parameters. Substitution of corn gluten feed for ground corn reduced dry matter intake (p<0.05) and average daily gain (p<0.10), increased NDF intake (p<0.05), but had no effect on feed efficiency. These diets showed no differences in the observed values of net energy of maintenance or gain. The ratio observed/expected net energy for the diet differs from the other treatments. For this type of diet, GC may be completely replaced by WM or CGF with no depression on feed efficiency or on diet net energy. NRC (2001) underestimates TDN values and net energy estimates for WM and CGF.