<b>Replacing corn with soybean hull: intake, carcass yield and characteristics, and yield of “buchada” of goats</b> - DOI: 10.4025/actascianimsci.v30i1.3606

Abstract

Thirty-two Anglo-Nubian crossbred castrated male goats were utilized in a completely randomized design to evaluate the effect of replacing corn with soybean hull in diets based on cactus forage (Nopalea cochenilifera Salm Dyck) at levels of 0, 33, 66 and 100%, measured for intake and carcass yield. The rise in soybean hull levels increased neutral detergent fiber intake linearly (p < 0.05) and reduced the intake of non-fiber carbohydrates. However, live slaughter weight, empty body weight, freezing losses, hot carcass weight and yield, cold carcass and “buchada” (gut) were not influenced. Fasting losses presented quadratic behavior (p < 0.05) while true and freezing yields increased linearly (p < 0.05). The carcass compactness index, the cuts and their respective yields were not influenced by the replacement of corn with soybean hull level, except for the shoulder cut, which presented quadratic behavior (p < 0.05). Total replacement of corn reduced feeding costs by 15.4%. Soybean hull can represent an alternative in the feeding of goats in confinement fed a cactus forage-based diet.