Feeding systems for calf fattening

Twelve Holstein x Zebu calves were used from 91 to 390 days of age, in a co mpletely randomized design with 6 replications in the following treatments: A) ad libitum molasses/10% urea diet and fresh forage (control) and B) int egral diets with sugar cane meal. Animals of treatment A also received 500 g of soybean and 60 g of mineral salt daily, white those of B) were fed an integral starter diet with 25% sugar cane meal from 91 to 180 days of age a nd an integral Fattening diet with 50% sugar cane meal from 181 to 390 days of age as the only ration. Liveweights and accumulated gains at 390 days w ere 211 and 387 kg, 426 and 1015 g/day (P < 0.001) for A and B, respectivel y. Carcass yield was 45 and 56% and edible meat was of 30 and 40% in that s ame order. The control treatment showed a deficit (P < 0.001) in dry matter and metabolizable energy intake throughout the experimental period. It is concluded that the use of integral diets with sugar cane meal in calf fatte ning allows liveweight gains of 1 kg/day from weaning until 390 days of age with high carcass and edible meat yields.