PRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF CONFINED NELORE CALVES UNDER CORN SILAGE FEEDING PROCESSED

• Grant number: 11/09130-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2011
• End date: March 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Animal Husbandry - Animal Production
• Principal Investigator: Geraldo de Nardi Junior
• Grantee: Thiago Franco da Silveira
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Tecnologia de Botucatu (FATEC Botucatu). Centro Paula Souza (CEETEPS). Secretaria de Desenvolvimento Econômico (São Paulo - Estado). Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This study aimed at comparing the effects of processed crushed corn silage to conventional silage on animal performance. Seventy-two calves aged 18 months were used. The animals will be confined for 105 days, being 21 days for adapting to facilities as well as to the diet. Twenty-four covered stalls will be used for animal and food protection from weathering. Four diets will be offered to animals according to concentrate: roughage ratio: T1 80:20 uncrushed silage, T2 80:20 crushed silage, T3 60:40 uncrushed silage, T4 60:40 crushed silage. Roughage contains corn hybrid silage of hard texture with 40% of dry matter processed by crushing as well as unprocessed. Data was analyzed according to normal distribution and variance homogeneity by MIXED method/processing/procedure (SAS, 1996) with significance of 5% of probability.