<b>Replacing corn with cassava starch by-products on the performance, digestibility and carcass characteristics of bulls in confinement</b> - DOI: 10.4025/actascianimsci.v31i4.6093

Abstract

The effects of replacing corn with different levels of cassava starch by-products (0, 12.5, 22.8, and 32.7%) were evaluated on performance, digestibility and carcass traits of feedlot bulls. Thirty-two crossbred bulls (½ Nelore x ½ Angus) around 18 months of age and 380 kg of body weight were used. A completely randomized design was used, with 4 treatments and 8 replicates. Evaluated traits were: average daily gain (ADG), carcass dressing (CD), backfat thickness (BT), Longissimus area (LDA), leg length (LL) and cushion thickness (CT), dry matter intake (DMI), feed conversion ratio (FCR), total apparent digestibility of dry matter (DMDC), organic matter (OMDC), crude protein (CPDC), crude energy (CEDC), acid detergent fiber (ADFDC) and neutral detergent fiber (NDFDC). The experiment was developed during a period of 56 days, after 14 days of adaptation. No differences were observed for BDG, CY, FCR, BT, LDA, LL, and CT results did not present differences (p > 0.05) among the treatments. DMI presented linear decrease as corn was replaced by cassava starch by-products. The digestibility coefficients of DM, OM, CP, CE, NDF and ADF did not vary among the experimental rations.