The objective of this trial was to evaluate partial and total tract digestibilities of diets containing Brachiaria brizantha hay plus concentrate fed to young bulls. Four Santa Gertrudis young bulls fitted with duodenal and ruminal cannulae were used in a 4 x 4 Latin square. Diets were formulated to yield daily body weight gains (BWG) of 0.5 or 1 kg/animal and potential of microbial fermentation of 9.5 or 11 g of microbial crude protein/MJ fermentable metabolizable energy. Apparent digestibility of nutrients was estimated using indigestible acid detergent fiber (IADF) as the internal marker. Dry matter intake (DMI) of bulls fed the diet formulated to yield high BWG was greater (8.07 kg/day) than the DMI of bulls fed the low BWG diet, which averaged 7.05 kg/animal/day. However, DMI did not differ and averaged 7.57 kg/animal/day on diets formulated to yield different potential of microbial fermentation in the rumen. Diet formulated to yield BWG of 1 kg/animal had greater total tract digestibilities of OM and total carbohydrates than that formulated to yield BWG of 0.5 kg/animal. Results from this trial did not justify formulating diets for greater ruminal microbial fermentation. On the other hand, diet balanced for high BWG improved intake and nutrient utilization compared to that balanced for low BWG.
body weight gain; indigestible acid detergent fiber; potential of microbial fermentation
