ECONOMIC RESPONSE ON FEEDLOT STEERS FINISHING, WITH SILAGE OF MAIZE (Zea mays L.) AT TWO DIFFERENT MATURATION STAGES ASSOCIATED TO TWO LEVELS OF CONCENTRATE ON DIET

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the profitability of beef cattle finishing steers crossbreedingcharolais and nellore in feedlot condition, feed with diets based on silage of maize (Zea mays L.) at two differentmaturation stages: with 25.6 and 32.6% of dry matter (DM), associated to two different levels of concentrate 40 e 70%.The maturation stage with 32.6% of DM proportioned higher production of green matter production (GM) (62,234 vs.50,565 kg.ha-1), DM (20,288 vs. 12,944 kg.ha-1), grains (8,329 vs. 3,100 kg.ha-1) and total digestible nutrients (TDN)(14,070 vs. 8,378 kg.ha-1), consequently, the silage showed lower production costs of GM (49.20 vs. 59.03 R$.t-1 ofGM), DM (150.93 vs. 230.61 R$.t-1 of DM) and TDN (217.63 vs. 356.29 R$.t-1 of TDN), face the silage with 25.6% ofDM. The diet that included silage with 32.6% of DM and 40% of concentrate level showed the better economic result(231.30 R$.animal-1), being the most economically adequate for beef cattle finishing in feedlot condition.

Keywords

• feed cost
• harvesting age
• silage quality