Utilização de farelo do mesocarpo do babaçu e milho inteiro ou moído na dieta de tourinhos mestiços em terminação

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the nutrient intake, performance, feeding behavior and carcass and meat characteristics, of young dairy crossbred bulls feedlot finished and fed for 98 days (77 days data collection and 21 days of adaptation) with diets containing babassu mesocarp bran (BMB) (0 and 41.24%) and whole or ground corn grain. The experimental design was completely randomized with 2 x 2 factorial arrangement with six replicates by treatment, totaling 24 young bulls. We collected samples of food, diets, orts and feces that were used to determine the nutrient intakes and apparent digestibilities. At the end of the experimental period the animals were slaughtered at a commercial packing plant where the carcass data and meat samples were collected. Intakes of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) increased with the inclusion of BMB, while the consumption of TDN was influenced by the form of corn, being lower in the diets with whole corn. The apparent digestibility of neutral detergent fiber and non-fiber carbohydrates were reduced to the extent that the BMB and whole corn diets were used, respectively, while the digestibility of DM and CP did not vary. The average daily weight gain decreased with the combination of BMB and whole corn, while the feed efficiency of DM and CP decreased with the addition of BMB. Replacing corn by BMB increased feeding time of the animals, but had no influence on the time spent with rumination. Carcass characteristics were not affected by the level of inclusion of BMB, however, the use of ground corn increased the whole hot carcass weight, the cold carcass yield and the pistol cut weight, increasing the income from the sale of these carcasses. The use of whole corn increased the percentage of bone in the carcass and reduced the weight of cap of rump and strip loin chain, which have high commercial value. The use of BMB does not influence carcass characteristics, but modifies nutrient intake. Corn must be supplied ground, because it improves the performance and carcass characteristics.