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Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate high-concentrate diets and two energy sources on intake, performance and meat quality parameters of feedlot Nellore heifers. Twenty-eight heifers (200 ± 22.5 kg BW) were randomly assigned to four treatments in a 2×2 factorial arrangement: two concentrate levels (70 and 80%) and two energy sources (corn and corn germ meal). At the end of day 112, heifers were slaughtered. There was no interaction (P>0.05) of concentrate levels and energy sources for dry matter intake, unlike crude protein (CP) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) intakes. The concentrate level of 80% and corn, allowed the highest CP (1.17 kg/day) and NDF (4.05 kg/day) intakes. Final BW (P<0.05) and daily gain (P<0.01) were influenced just by energy source. The carcass composition represented by muscle and fat was affected by concentrate level (P<0.05). Treatments affected (P<0.01) carcass fat deposition, global preference and texture of Longissimus muscle (P<0.05). It was concluded that high proportions of concentrate containing corn as energy source provided the best performance in heifers, and that the total replacement of corn with corn germ meal in high-concentrate diets is not recommended for performance Nellore heifers, but provided good sensory quality to the meat.
Highlights
High-concentrate diets fed to beef cattle are commonly based on cereal grains and are able to improve weight gain and carcass quality, allowing faster fat deposition
In Brazil approximately 87% of the primary grain source of feedstuff diets is the corn, which increases the possibility of causing metabolic disorders, since the inclusion is over 50% in dry matter (Oliveira & Millen 2014)
Intake and performance The lack of effects of concentrate level and energy source on DMI could be attributed to the ingredients characteristics, whose substrate availability and degradation was not limiting, except for the sunflower meal, which has low fiber degradation
Summary
High-concentrate diets fed to beef cattle are commonly based on cereal grains and are able to improve weight gain and carcass quality, allowing faster fat deposition. These diets, commonly starch-rich, are characterized by faster degradation, providing more energy, especially the net energy for gain. In Brazil approximately 87% of the primary grain source of feedstuff diets is the corn, which increases the possibility of causing metabolic disorders, since the inclusion is over 50% in dry matter (Oliveira & Millen 2014). Energetic by-products, which contain lower amounts of starch and contain more fiber than corn, could be utilized due to its high fermentable capacity to promote rumination, without causing such metabolic disorders, An Acad Bras Cienc (2021) 93(3) Diets with large amounts of starch, produce acids that decrease rumen pH, negatively influencing intake, microbial metabolism, nutrient degradation and performance parameters (Paulino et al 2008, Plaizier et al 2009, Dijkstra et al 2012, Carvalho et al 2016).
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