Evaluation of cassava and its industrial residues replacing corn in the apparent digestibility for feedlot heifers

Abstract

The objective of this work was to study the effect of replacement of corn meal by cassava hulls, cassava meal or cassava roots on apparent digestibility coefficient of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, crude energy, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber and starch. Ash insoluble acid (AIA)was used as an internal indicator, in heifers. Twenty-eight crossbred heifers, averaging 365kg live weight and 24 months old, were used in a complete randomized design to test four diets with seven repetitions. The replacement of corn by cassava roots increased the apparent digestibility coefficient of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, crude energy and starch. The apparent digestibility coefficient of the neutral detergent fiber was similar in diets with cassava hulls and diets with cassava roots. The apparent digestibility coefficient of the acid detergent fiber was smaller for cassava meal and similar for other diets.