Farelo de vagem de algaroba em substituição ao milho em rações para bovinos machos de origem leiteira

Abstract

Various plants of the northeastern semiarid region, due to its nutritional value, can be used in ruminant feed as an alternative ingredient in the dry season, in order to improve the performance of animals in the region. In this context, the objective was to evaluate the use of bran mesquite pods (FVA) replacing corn in rations for dairy cattle males. The experiment was conducted at the Academic Unit of the cattle industry of Serra Talhada - UFRPE, semi-arid northeastern Brazil, using 25 male cattle of dairy (Zebu x Holstein), not castrated, dairy origin with average weight of 219 ±22 kg . The experimental period lasted 99 days with 15 days of adaptation and 84 days divided into three periods of 28 days each for sample collection. The animals were distributed in five treatments with five repetitions. The animals were maintained throughout the trial period in individual pens provided with feeder and drinker. The experimental diets were composed of Tifton 85 grass hay, soybean meal, ground corn, mesquite pod meal and mineral salt. Food samples were collected (hay and concentrate), refusals, feces and urine. The experimental design was completely randomized (DIC), and the data were analyzed using PROC GLM for analysis of variance and PROC REG for regression analysis of Statistical Analysis Sistems (SAS, version 9.1). It was observed that replacing corn with FVA did not influence significantly the intake and digestibility of nutrients. The animal weight gain, and feed conversion did not show significant difference between the analyzed treatments. The retained and consumed nitrogen ratio did not differ between treatments analyzed. Likewise there were no significant differences in efficiency of synthesis, and microbial protein from the substitution levels. However, the concentration and excretion of urea nitrogen and urea showed quadratic effect of the replacement levels of corn by FVA. The feeding behavior (time spent with eating, chewing, rumination and idle) showed no statistical differences between the corn replacement levels by FVA in animals. The mesquite pod meal can be used in total replacement of corn in male cattle diet dairy.