Substituição de milho por torta de cupuaçu na dieta de bubalinos confinados

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluated buffaloes steers in housing feeding increase levels of cupuaçu meal in replacement of ground corn on nutrients digestibility, performance and ingestive behaviour. The experimental period was 56 days. Eighteen entire male buffaloes steers (without defined breed) aged approximately 205 days and initial average live weight of 122 ± 30.1 kg were used. The animals were distributed in a randomized block design with three treatments (0, 50 and 100% of cupuaçu meal in replacement of ground corn) and six replicates (animals) each. The total collection of feces and urine, and behaviour parameters were evaluated for a period of 24 hours. Weekly, the diets and animals were weighted for performance evaluation. Blood collection was performed to determine plasma urea nitrogen and glucose levels. The data collected were analyzed as measures repeated in time by the MIXED procedure of the SAS (Littel et al., 1996), and the means were compared by orthogonal contrasts in 5% of significance. From the obtained results, it was concluded that it is possible to use cupuaçu meal for partial or total replacement of ground corn in diets for buffaloes steers in housing.