The objective of this study was to evaluate animal performance and carcass characteristics of 64 Nellore young bulls at 22 months of age finished in a feedlot and slaughtered at five body weights (350; 455; 485; 555 and 580 kg) fed diets containing coated or uncoated urea. The experimental design adopted was completely randomized, set in a 4 × 2 factorial arrangement, and for the variables assessed in the control animals, it was 5 × 2. No effect of interaction between slaughter weights and diets were observed, so the variables were analyzed separately, compared by polynomial contrasts and by the F test, respectively. The time animals remained in the feedlot to reach slaughter weights was 66, 88, 145 and 194 days. Average daily gain (ADG) showed quadratic behavior, with a maximum of 1.44 kg/day with animals of 491.7 kg. Dry matter intake (DMI) (kg/day) was similar in all the treatments, but it decreased linearly as body weight increased. The bionutritional efficiency worsened linearly as body weight rose. The elevation in slaughter weight resulted in linear decrease in the percentage of beef round and increase in forequarter. Backfat thickness and rib eye area of the longissimus increased linearly and the percentages of muscle and protein in the carcass reduced and those of fat and ether extract increased linearly as body weight increased. Average daily gain, DMI, feed efficiency and carcass characteristics were not affected by diets containing coated or uncoated urea. However, animals fed coated urea presenter better crude fiber and neutral detergent fiber intake.

O experimento foi conduzido com o objetivo de avaliar o desempenho, as características de carcaça e a viabilidade econômica do confinamento de bovinos alimentados com silagem dos capins tanzânia ou marandu, com 0 e 10% de polpa cítrica peletizada (PCP), em comparação à silagem de milho. Foram utilizados silos de superfície (12 × 5 × 1 m) como silos experimentais. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado, com oito tratamentos (dietas) e seis repetições (animais). As dietas experimentais foram formuladas com os capins tanzânia ou marandu, acrescidos ou não de 10% de PCP, em comparação à silagem de milho e de forma a permitir ganhos de 1,0 e 1,2 kg/dia, respectivamente. Os animais alimentados com as dietas com silagem de capim-marandu e 10% de PCP formuladas para ganhos de peso de 1,0 e 1,2 kg/dia, apresentaram os maiores consumos de MS. Não houve diferença significativa no ganho de peso vivo, no peso de carcaça quente, no rendimento de carcaça, no ganho de carcaça, na espessura de gordura e na área de olho-de-lombo. A taxa de remuneração do capital e a taxa interna de retorno foram maiores nos animais alimentados com as dietas contendo silagem de milho.

The experiment was carried out to evaluate the performance, carcass characteristics, and the economical viability of a steer feedlot fed Tanzania and Marandu grass silage, with 0% and 10% of pelleted citrus pulp (PCP), compared with corn silage. Experimental surface silos (12 × 5 × 1 m) were used. The data were analyzed according to a completely randomized experimental design with eight treatments (diets) and six replications (animals). The experimental diets were formulated using Tanzania or Marandu grass silages, with or without addition 10% of PCP, in comparison with corn silage diets, in order to allow body weight gain of 1.0 and 1.2 kg/day, respectively. Animals that received the diets with Marandu grass silage with 10% of PCP and formulated for gain of 1.0 and 1.2 kg/day, presented the highest DM intake. There was no significant difference in the variables live weight, hot carcass weight, dressing percentage, carcass gain, fat thickness, and ribeye area. Capital remuneration rate and the internal rate of return were highest on the animals fed corn silage diets.

Foram avaliados os efeitos dos níveis de concentrado nas rações sobre a eficiência de síntese microbiana, o balanço de compostos nitrogenados, a concentração de amônia e o pH do fluido ruminal, a taxa de passagem da digesta ruminal e as perdas endógenas de compostos nitrogenados (N). Foram utilizados cinco novilhos F1 Simental x Nelore, não-castrados, fistulados no rúmen, abomaso e íleo, alimentados à vontade com dietas que continham 25,0; 37,5; 50,0; 62,5; e 75,0% de concentrado e distribuídos em delineamento quadrado latino 5x5. As concentrações de amônia e o pH ruminal foram determinados em amostras de fluido ruminal coletadas imediatamente antes do fornecimento das rações e 2; 4; 6; e 8 horas após. A taxa de passagem foi determinada pelo modelo unicompartimental, utilizando-se o óxido crômico como indicador. A eficiência de síntese microbiana, expressa em relação à matéria orgânica degradada no rúmen (MODR), aos carboidratos totais degradados no rúmen (CHODR) e ao NDT, foi influenciada quadraticamente pelos níveis de concentrado na dieta, estimando-se valores máximos de 41,22 gNmic/kg MODR, 39,89 gNmic/kg CHODR e 17,33g PBmic/100 g NDT, estimados para 52,16; 60,44; e 56,63% de concentrado na dieta, respectivamente. Quando expressa em MSmic/kg CHODR, a eficiência aumentou linearmente com o nível de concentrado. Foram estimados valores de 5,15 g N/kg MS ingerida para o nitrogênio metabólico fecal e 422 mg N/kg0,75 para as perdas endógenas totais. As concentrações máximas de amônia para todos os tratamentos ocorreram a 3,6 horas após o fornecimento da ração. As taxas de passagem de 0,052; 0,052; 0,055; 0,055; e 0,042.h-1 foram verificadas para os tratamentos com 25,0; 37,5; 50,0; 62,5; e 75,0% de concentrado, respectivamente. A máxima eficiência microbiana foi obtida entre 52 e 60% de concentrado.

The effects of dietary concentrate levels were evaluated on the microbial synthesis efficiency, the nitrogenous compounds balance, the ammonia concentrations and the ruminal fluid pH, the ruminal digesta passage rate and the endogenous losses of nitrogen compounds (N). Five F1 Simental x Nellore bulls fistulated in the rumen, abomasum and ileum, full fed diets with 25.0; 37.5; 50.0; 62.5; and 75.0% of concentrate and allotted to 5x5 Latin square, were used. The ammonia concentrations and the ruminal pH were determined in ruminal fluid samples immediately collected before and 2; 4; 6; and 8 hours after feeding. The unicompartimental model, using chromic oxide as indicator, determined the passage rate. The microbial synthesis efficiency, express in relation to the organic matter degraded in the rumen (OMDR), to the total carbohydrates degraded in the rumen (CHODR) and to TDN, was influenced in quadratic way by the concentrate levels in the diet, estimating maximum values of 41.22 gNmic/kg OMDR, 39.89 gNmic/kg CHODR and 17.33g CPmic/100 g NDT, estimated for 52.16, 60.44, and 56.63% of concentrate in the diet, respectively. When express in DMmic/kg CHODR, the efficiency linearly increased as the concentrate level increased. Values of 5.15 g N/kg ingested DM for the fecal metabolic nitrogen and 422 mg N/kg0,75 for the total endogenous losses were estimated. The maximum ammonia concentrations for all treatments were observed at 3,6 hours after feeding. The passage rates of .052, .052, .055, .055, and .042.h-1 were obtained for all treatments with 25.0, 37.5, 50.0, 62.5, and 75.0% of concentrate, respectively. The maximum microbial efficiency ranged from 52 to 60% of concentrate.

O objetivo deste experimento foi avaliar os efeitos dos níveis de concentrado das dietas sobre os consumos e as digestibilidades aparentes totais e parciais de matéria seca (MS), matéria orgânica (MO), proteína bruta (PB), extrato etéreo (EE), fibra em detergente neutro (FDN) e carboidratos totais (CHO). O efeito das coletas realizadas durante o dia e a noite, para as digestibilidades aparentes totais e parciais da MS e MO, também foi avaliado. Quatro novilhos Nelore, não-castrados, fistulados no rúmen, abomaso e íleo, alimentados à vontade com rações que continham 25,0; 37,5; 50,0; 62,5; e 75,0% de concentrado, foram distribuídos delineamento em blocos casualizados. Foi utilizado o óxido crômico como indicador, na dose de 20 g/dia. O consumo de MS, MO, NDT e EE aumentou e o de FDN decresceu linearmente com o aumento dos níveis de concentrado nas rações. Houve efeito quadrático para as digestibilidades aparentes totais da MS e MO, em que os valores mínimos foram estimados em 67,27 e 68,31%, com 36,71 e 41,5% de concentrado nas rações, respectivamente. As digestibilidades aparentes ruminais da MS e MO foram, em média, 63,35 e 71,42%, respectivamente. O aumento de concentrado nas rações reduziu a digestão ruminal da FDN. À medida que se reduziu o teor de FDN, ocorreu aumento linear tanto para NDT, quanto para a digestibilidade total da MS. Não houve diferenças para as digestibilidades aparentes totais e parciais da MS e MO obtidas em coletas realizadas durante o dia ou a noite.

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of the concentrate level in the diets on the intakes and total and partial apparent digestibilities of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and total carbohydrates (CHO). The effect of collections carried out during the day and the night, for the DM and OM total and partial apparent digestibilities, was also evaluated. Four Nellore bulls, fistulated in the rumen, abomasum and ileum, fed diets ad libitum with 25.0; 37.5; 50.0; 62.5; and 75.0% of concentrate, were randomly allotted to a completely randomized block design. The chromium oxide was used as indicator, in the dose of 20 g/day. The intakes of DM, OM, total digestible nutrients (TDN) and EE increased and that of NDF decreased linearly with the increase of the concentrate in the diets. The minimum estimated total apparent digestibilities of 67.27% for DM and 68.31% for OM were with 36.71 and 41.5% of concentrate in the diets, respectively. The ruminal apparent digestibilities of DM and OM averaged 63.35 and 71.42%, respectively. The increase of concentrate in the diets reduced the ruminal digestion of NDF, but resulted in linear increase in TDN and total DM digestibility of the diets. There were no differences for the total and partial apparent digestibilities of DM and OM obtained in collections accomplished during the day or the night