Feeding behavior and productive performance of steers fed pearl millet grain-based diets containing proportions of babassu mesocarp bran

Wanderson Martins Alencar,Regis Luis Missio,Ithálo Barros De Freitas,João Restle,Fabrícia Rocha Chaves Miotto,José Neuman Miranda Neiva

doi:10.1590/s1806-92902015001200003

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the feeding behavior and feedlot productive performance of dairy-origin steers fed for 84 days ground pearl millet grain-based diets with 0, 120, 240, 360, and 480 g kg-1 of babassu mesocarp bran (BMB) and a standard diet based on ground corn. Thirty Holstein-Zebu steers with average initial body weight of 371.02±27 kg were used. The experimental design was completely randomized, with five replications. Dry matter intake showed better fit with the quadratic regression equation with the inclusion of BMB, reaching a maximum value in diets with 360 g of this by-product. There was no difference for dry matter intake between pearl millet- and corn-based diets. There was no difference in total digestible nutrients intake between diets. The digestibility coefficient of organic matter decreased linearly with the increase in the dietary level of BMB. The digestibility coefficient of organic matter was not different between corn and millet diets. There was no difference in feeding time between diets. Total requirement of metabolizable energy increased linearly with inclusion of BMB. However, total requirements of metabolizable energy did not differ between the corn- and pearl millet-based diets. Average daily gain decreased linearly with the increase in BMB, with adjustment forced by the sharp decline of this variable in diets with 480 g of BMB. There was no difference in average daily gain between corn- and pearl millet-based diets. The inclusion of levels above 360 g of babassu mesocarp bran in pearl millet-based diets reduces the supply of metabolizable energy and the productive performance of feedlot dairy steers.

Highlights

The objective of this study was to evaluate the feeding behavior and feedlot productive performance of dairy-origin steers fed for 84 days ground pearl millet grain-based diets with 0, 120, 240, 360, and 480 g kg–1 of babassu mesocarp bran (BMB) and a standard diet based on ground corn
The inclusion of levels above 360 g of babassu mesocarp bran in pearl millet-based diets reduces the supply of metabolizable energy and the productive performance of feedlot dairy steers
Finishing dairy-origin males in the feedlot is an alternative for increasing beef production and the income of farmers without reducing pasture areas intended for milk production

Summary

Introduction

Finishing dairy-origin males in the feedlot is an alternative for increasing beef production and the income of farmers without reducing pasture areas intended for milk production. Cruz et al (2014) demonstrated that diets in which the concentrate proportion exceeds the forage, source, amount and commercial value of foods are more important in shaping the cost of production than the manipulation of the amount of forage/concentrate in the diet. This demonstrates the importance of using lower-cost feedstuffs. The pearl millet grain (Pennisetum americanum), in this context, is an alternative for lowering the feedlot cost, since its trade value is less than or equal to 77.78% of the cost of the corn grain (Silva et al, 2014). The babassu mesocarp bran (BMB) is produced from the mesocarp (23% of the fruit) of babassu and can replace the corn grain without affecting animal performance, but it lowers the feed cost (Silva et al, 2012; Cruz et al, 2014)

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