Silagem de capim na terminação de bovinos em confinamento

The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance and characteristics of feedlot cattle with different weights of slaughter and grass silage diet. The experimental period was from may 25 to september 30, totaling 114 days of evaluation, 18 steers with 20 months of age with initial weight of 405.78 kg and finished with 510, 535 and 560 kg were fed at will two times per day with grass silage and concentrate. The design was completely randomized with three treatments and using six replicates (animals). The animals slaughtered with 510 kg had higher average daily weight gain (1.69 kg animal-1 day-1). This performance was determined by the better feed conversion (6.46 kg DM), being 48% more efficient, thus higher daily carcass gain (1.30 kg animal-1 day-1), thus representing a higher gain yield (769.50 g kg-1 BW) of the predicted carcass. However, after the cooling of the carcass, the lowest weight of slaughter showed a greater fall, due to the influence of the lower thickness of subcutaneous fat (3.17 mm) in this lot. Closed animals in confinement receiving grass silage should be slaughtered when they reach a body level of 510 kg.