Economic analysis of the risk of replacing corn grains (Zea mays) with pearl millet grains (Pennisetum glaucum) in the diet of feedlot cattle

Rodrigo Medeiros Da Silva,Edom De Avila Fabricio,Fabiano Nunes Vaz,Paulo Santana Pacheco,Rodrigo Zaiden Taveira,Greicy Sofia Maysonnave,Ubirajara Oliveira Bilego,João Restle,Angelina Camera

doi:10.1590/0103-8478cr20190443

Rodrigo Medeiros Da Silva, Edom De Avila Fabricio + Show 7 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/0103-8478cr20190443

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Abstract

ABSTRACT: The goal of the present study was to assess the economic viability relating to the risk of replacing corn with pearl millet in diets with 80% concentration for feedlot cattle confined for 89 days. Replacement levels were: 0, 33, 66, and 100%. The risk was estimated using Monte Carlo simulation, Spearman’s rank correlation test between input variables, stochastic dominance, and analysis of sensitivity. The expected average values ± standard deviation for net present value (R$/animal) were ± 71.74 ± 283.32, 91.23 ± 285.18, 196.05 ± 273.79, and 223.80 ± 267.96 for diets containing 0, 33, 66, and 100% of pearl millet, respectively. The probability of ≥0 net present value was 63.4, 66.1, 78.4, and 82.4%, respectively. The net present values were statistically different (P<0.05), and the higher levels dominated the lower values. The items that most influenced the net present values were, in descending order, prices of unfinished and finished cattle, initial and final weights, prices of concentrate and forage, concentrate and forage consumption. Based on the results of the simulation, diet of 100% pearl millet exhibited the best economic viability.

Highlights

Alternative ingredients to corn (Zea mays) and sorghum are commonly used in cattle feedlots as concentrate components for diets
Taking into consideration that the economic aspects involving the use of pearl millet in the diet of cattle have been less explored by the scientific community, the present study proposed the use of the Monte Carlo simulation technique to assess whether replacing corn grains with pearl millet grains interfered with the economic viability of feedlot cattle
About feedlot beef cattle, Rosa et al, (2017) and Silva et al, (2017) have used Monte Carlo simulation to assess the economic viability of using different concentrate levels in the diets

Summary

Introduction

Alternative ingredients to corn (Zea mays) and sorghum are commonly used in cattle feedlots as concentrate components for diets. The use of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) is an interesting alternative, considering its low cost in comparison with corn. Among the crops used in succession to annual crops, pearl millet is one of the most important in the central-west and north regions of Brazil. It is usually seeded after the soybean cultivation and can be used for grazing and production of haystack, to produce grains for replacing corn crops (with higher risk during the interim-harvest), and/or for producing silage (BERGAMASCHINE et al, 2011). V.50, n.3, Studies have demonstrated that animal performance was similar in cattle fed pearl millet (HILL et al, 1996; GONÇALVES et al, 2010; SILVA et al, 2014), even without compromising the characteristics of carcasses and meat (SILVA et al, 2015), when compared with diets containing corn.

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