DESEMPENHO DE NOVILHAS DE CORTE ALIMENTADAS COM CANA HIDROLISADA

The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance, consumption and feed conversion of Angus x Nellore heifers fed hydrolyzed sugarcane. Twenty-four (1/2 Angus x Nellore crossbred) heifers were used with average body weight of 242 kg ± 23 kg, confined in individual pens with total area of 15 m2. The study consisted of six treatments distributed as follows: T1 – in natura sugarcane: sugarcane was given to animals after being chopped; T2 – hydrolyzed sugarcane with 0.5 % lime and 24 hours of air exposure; T3 – hydrolyzed sugarcane with 0.5 % lime and 48 hours of air exposure; T4 – hydrolyzed sugarcane with 1.0 % lime and 24 hours of air exposure; T5 – hydrolyzed sugarcane with 1.0 % lime and 48 hours of air exposure; T6 – hydrolyzed sugarcane with 1.0 % lime and 72 hours of air exposure. We used a completely randomized design with four replicates per treatment, and averages were compared by Tukey test at 5 % significant level of probability. No statistical difference was found for any of the treatments (P>0.05). The processing of sugarcane with lime did not increase the intake and performance of animals evaluated in this study.