Productive and economic performance of feedlot young Nellore bulls fed whole oilseeds

• Published in: Revista brasileira de zootecnia Vol. 52
• Main Authors: Valeriano, Heitor Henrique Costa, Ítavo, Luís Carlos Vinhas, Ítavo, Camila Celeste Brandão Ferreira, Gomes, Marina de Nadai Bonin, Dias, Alexandre Menezes, Difante, Gelson dos Santos, Longhini, Vanessa Zirondi, Gurgel, Antonio Leandro Chaves, Arcanjo, Angelo Herbet Moreira, Silva, Manoel Gustavo Paranhos da, Santana, Juliana Caroline Santos, Moura, Jessika Rodrigues de Figueiredo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Zootecnia 01.01.2023
• Subjects: AGRICULTURE, DAIRY & ANIMAL SCIENCE; cottonseed; economic yield; lipids; soybean; sunflower; VETERINARY SCIENCES; soybean; lipids; economic yield; sunflower; cottonseed
• ISSN: 1516-3598; 1806-9290; 1806-9290
• DOI: 10.37496/rbz5220220160

ABSTRACT The effects of diets containing oilseeds were measured to evaluate the productive and economic parameters in the finishing of young, feedlot Nellore bulls. Twenty-four young Nellore bulls were used, with an initial body weight (BW) of 311.46±0.37 kg and 24 months of age, distributed into individual stalls ( 4 × 20 m) in a completely randomized design, totaling four treatments with six repetitions per treatment. Four diets (control, based on corn and soybean meal, and three diets containing cottonseed, soybean, and sunflower) were evaluated. Feed and orts were measured daily to calculate intake and costs. The dry matter intake of the control group was higher than soybean (10.64 kg/day), cotton (9.88 kg/day), and sunflower (9.30 kg/day) treatments, respectively. The cottonseed treatment showed the highest average neutral detergent fiber intake. There was a dietary effect of diets on average daily gain, total weight gain, and final weight. The soybean treatment showed the highest performance, total gain (232.55 kg), and final weight (544.38 kg). Oilseed intake can modify the fatty acids profile in the meat, decreasing its saturated fatty acid content. Whole soybean seed favors performance, improves feed efficiency, fatty acid profile, and fat distribution in the carcass, and can reduce production costs.