Effects of partial replacement of corn by bakery waste in the diet on performance of Holstein steers

The effects of addition of bakery waste (BW) replacing corn in the diet of Holstein steers were studied. Four treatments, respectively to the addition of 0%, 10%, 20% and 30% of bakery waste were applied in the concentrated m ixture for corn replacement. Animals were fed with complete mixtures pellet ed ration, with 30% of Coast-cross hay (Cynodon dactylon L.) as roughage. T he experimental design was in randomized blocks, with four treatments and f ive repetitions, totalizing 20 animals. The performance was evaluated by in take and feed conversion, weight gain, heart-girth and size. Diarrhea incid ence was evaluated through daily observation of faeces, The experiment bega n when carves reached 90 kg of life weight, and lasted for 120 days. The re sults did not show statistically significant differences among treatments c oncerning weight gain, dry matter intake, feed conversion, heart-girth, hei ght at whiter and diarrhea incidence. The addition of bakery waste caused f eed costs reduction of 3.74%, 7.44% and 10.90% respectively for 10%, 20% an d 30% of bakery waste, in comparison to the control diet (0%). So, bakery w aste is an alternative source for feeding and for reduction of costs of gro wing steers, in comparison to corn.