SILAGE OF HIGH MOISTURE GRAIN AND DRY GRAIN OF SORGHUM AS ENERGETIC SOURCE FOR FEMALE CALVES FROM TWO GENETIC GROUPS

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) for the treatment of high moisture grain (.33 points) in comparison to dry grain (.22 points). No difference (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<.05) final body condition score (3.1 vs 3.0 points), initial (91.12 vs 83.62 cm) and final withers height (102.62 vs 94.84 cm) and initial (99.37 vs 89.69 cm) and final rump height (108.87 vs 101.37 cm). The CH calves had higher (P<.05) thoracic perimeter (24.94 vs 20.56 cm).
KEY WORDS: Average daily weight gain, crossbreeding, rump height, withers height, thoracic perimeter.