Abstract
The performance and development of Charolais (CH) and 5/8Nellore 3/8Charolais (5/8NC) female calves, feedlot fed with silage of high moisture grain or dry grain of sorghum, were evaluated. The roughage (corn silage):concentrate ratio was 60:40, dry matter (DM) basis. Calves average initial weight and age was 96.9±8.5kg and five months. The experimental design was complete randomized, with a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement (types of sorghum grains conservation x genetic groups). No significant interaction was observed between type of sorghum grain conservation and genetic group, for the variables studied. No difference (P>.05) was observed between high moisture and dry grain for daily intake of DM (DMI) 3.83 and 3.84 kg DM/day, and digestible energy (DEI) 14.59 and 14.92 Mcal/day, respectively. Average daily weight gain (ADW) .80 and .83 kg, final weight (FW) 165.0 and 166.5 kg, and feed conversion (FC) 4.78 and 4.63, were similar for high moisture and dry grain sorghum, respectively. Calves growth parameters according to sorghum grains conservation did not differ (P>.05). The gain of body condition (GBC) was higher (P .05) was observed between genetic groups for DMI, DEI, ADW, FC and FW. The 5/8NC compared to the CH calves showed higher (P KEY WORDS: Average daily weight gain, crossbreeding, rump height, withers height, thoracic perimeter.
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