Performance and carcass characteristics of feedlot Nellore fed diets containing sugarcane bagasse and different energy sources

The objective of this trial was to evaluate weight gain and carcass traits of feedlot Nellore fed diets containing sugarcane bagasse and one of the following concentrate Sources: corn germ meal, soybean hulls or citrus pulp that partially (50% DM) replaced-round corn in the diet. The four experimental diets were formulated to yield a forage:concentrate ratio of 39:61. Forty Nellore animals averaging 340 kg of body weight and 32 months of age at the beginning of the trial were used. No significant differences on final weight (470.8, 478.6, 476.4, and 475.3 kg), weight gain (1.1, 1.1, 1.1, and 1.2 kg.animal(-1)day(-1)), carcass yield (55.3, 55.3, 54.0 and 54.8%), Longissimus area (24.2, 23.0, 25.0, and 23.2 cm(2).100 kg(-1) of carcass), and backfat thickness (4.4, 5.6, 4.7, and 4.4 mm) were observed among the four concentrate sources. The lowest cost per arroba was observed when ground corn was partially replaced by citrus Pulp (R$ 44.20) followed by corn germ meal (R$ 48.80) and soybean hulls (R$ 50.80) the diet containing only g-round corn as the energy source had the greatest cost per arroba produced (R$ 51.80). It can be concluded that ground corn call be partially replaced by corn germ meal, soybean hulls or citrus Pulp in diets for feedlot Nellore also receiving hydrolyzed sugar care bagasse with no detrimental effects in weight gain and carcass traits.