| dc.description.abstract | The objective of the present study was to evaluate the viability of the use of soybean soapstock on feedlot finishing of steers. Thirty castrated males, with initial average age and live weight of 20 months and 328.3 kg, , respectively, from Laboratório de Bovinocultura de Corte, were used. The steers were confined per a period of 84 days, until reach appropriate finishing degreed. Each treatment was composed by six animals, Charolais Nellore crossbred. During the experimental period, the animals received a diet containing roughage:concentrate relation of 40:60 (dry matter basis). The roughage used was the corn silage and the concentrate from hull, bran and soapstock of soybean, sodium chloride and limestone. The steers were distributed into treatments: .0; 3; 6; 9 and 12% of soybean soapstock in diet, which contained 2.9; 4.05; 5.26; 6.52 and 7.8% of ether extract, respectively. Dry matter, crude protein and digestible energy intakes, when expressed in kg/day, in % of live weight and in unit of metabolic weight, were similar between treatments (P>.05). However, the intakes of ether extract, neutral and acid detergent fiber decreased (P<.05) with the inclusion of soybean soapstock in diet (CEE = .303+.035BS; CFDN = 5.71-.11BS; CFDA = 3.89=.08BS in kg/day, respectively), ether extract efficiency, neutral detergent fiber and acid presented a decreased linear behavior (P>.05). The performance of steers was similar between treatments, with daily weight gain of 1,542 kg, slaughter weight 457.95 kg and feed conversion of 6.35 kg MS/kg PV. In relation to ingestive behavior, the increase of soybean soapstock in diet didn t change (P>.05) time spent with feeding, rumination and idle, with values of 3.11; 5.55 and 13.33 hours, respectively. The inclusion of soybean soapstock didn t alter (P>.05) number of bolus chewed per day, time of chew per bolus and number of chews per bolus ruminated. The animals that consumed higher level of soybean soapstock were less efficient in rumination of neutral detergent fiber (ERFDN = 859.11-22.69BS). The use of soybean soapstock until the limit of 7.8% of ether extract in diet of feedlot steers is practicable, due to not change ingestive behavior and animal response. | |
