Bioeconomic performance of young bulls fed levels of concentrate and babassu mesocarp bran

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the bioeconomic performance of young bulls fed levels of concentrate and babassu mesocarp bran (BMB). Twenty-eight Nellore young bulls, 21 months of age and 356.7 ± 19.2 kg of initial body weight, were randomly assigned to diets that combined two concentrate levels (65 and 71%) and two levels of BMB (zero and 35 %). The experimental design used was the completely randomized design with treatments in a 2x2 factorial arrangement, using seven replicates. The apparent digestibility of dry matter decreased by 15.8% by the inclusion of BMB and 4.6% by increasing the level of concentrate in the diet. The intakes of dry matter (DMI, kg/day) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF, kg/day) increased, respectively, 8.7 and 24.8% by the inclusion of the BMB. The increase of the level of concentrate did not alter the DMI, but caused decrease of NDFI by 4.5%. The inclusion of 35% of BMB in the concentrate reduced the feed cost and total cost, however did not affect the profit margin. The elevation of the level of concentrate in the diet determined elevation of feed cost and total cost, but did not alter the profit margin. According to the sensitivity analysis when the exchange ratio between the price of corn grain and FMB is low (1.3:1 and 1.7:1) and consequently the price of corn is low, the inclusion of 35% of BMB in the concentrate does not change the total cost, regardless of the level of concentrate. The inclusion of 35% of the BMB in the concentrated is a viable alternative, since it does not change the feedlot performance of young bulls. However, its use is more economically impactful when using diets with high concentrate and the exchange ratio between the price of this byproduct and corn is high.