PERFORMANCE AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS O F FEEDLOT NELORE STEERS, FED 15 OR 30-PERCENT OF WHOLE COTTONSEED, AUTO-HIDROLYZED BAGASSE OF SUGAR-CANE, AND SUGAR-CANE OR ELEPHANT GRASS

This work was carried out to study the effect of two levels of whole c ottonseed (15% or 30% of dry matter) on the performance and carcass tr aits of steers fed autohydrolyzed sugarcane bagasse (30-32%/DM) and su garcane or elephant grass. Twenty four Nelore steers (6 for each treat ment) aged approximately 2.5 years and initial average live weight of 303 kg were used. The experimental treatments were: CE15 (elephant gra ss + 15% of whole cottonseed), CE30 (elephant grass + 30% of whole cot tonseed), CA15 (sugarcane + 15% cottonseed) and CA30 (sugarcane + 30% cottonseed). The animals were allocated for 105 days (including 21-day s adaptation period) in 10 m(2) pens (2 animals per pen) and were fed in bunks (1 m linear per animal) twice a day (at 8 am and 4 pm). Water was given ad libitum. Treatments did not influence (p > 0.05) weight gain which varied from 0.90 kg to 0.96 kg per day for 15 and 30% of wh ole cottonseed, respectively. intake of dry matter and crude protein d id not show any difference (P > 0.05) between whole cottonseed levels and forages sources. Dry matter intake/live weight was not influenced (p > 0.05) by treatments. Feed conversion was similar (P > 0.05) for a il treatments, varying from 13.23 to 11.43 for 15 and 30% of whole cot tonseed, respectively. Treatments did not influence (P > 0.05) carcass weight, killing out, leg length, thigh thickness, carcass length and arm diameter.