The experiment was conducted with the objective to evaluate the performance of feedlot finished calves, fed with silages of AG-5011 corn hybrid harvested with different cutting height: low cut (20 cm) and high cut (42 cm). Twelve Braford calves with an average age of seven months and average live weight of 209 kg, were used. The feedlot period was 126 days, divided in two periods of the 63 days. The roughage:concentrate ratio was 60:40 and 50:50 for the first and second periods, respectively. The high cut silage showed higher IVOMD (66.67 vs 58.60%) and lower NDF (41.47 vs 47.80%). Significant interaction was observed between cutting height and evaluation period for dry matter intake (DMI) expressed per 100 kg of live weight and per unit of metabolic weight, digestible energy intake (DEI), weight gain (ADG), feed conversion (FC) and energy efficiency (EE). Animals fed with the high cut silage during the first period presented higher ADG (1.352 vs 1.198 kg) and better FC (4.82 vs 5.39 kg of DM/kg LW) than animals fed with the low cut silage. However, with the reduction of the roughage:concentrate ratio to 50:50 during the second period, the ADG (1.228 vs 1.336 kg) and FC (6.43 vs 6.34 kg of DM/kg LW) were similar. Slaughter and cold carcass weight, dressing percentage and subcutaneous fat thickness were similar, being, respectively, 371.8 kg; 195.3 kg; 52.46%; and 5.7 mm for the higher cut and 368.2 kg; 195.7 kg; 53.08%; and 3.7 mm for the lower cut.
beef cattle; Braford; dry matter intake; feed conversion; weight gain
