ABSTRACT - Daily dry matter intake (CPUPV), feed:gain ratio (CONV) and average daily gain (ADG) of 80 Charolais (Ch), Caracu (Ca) and reciprocal crossbred (ChCa and CaCh) males were analyzed. The ChCa and CaCh were generated by rotational Ch x Ca crossbreeding. All animals were fed in individual stalls for 76 to 97 day periods receiving corn silage ad libitum and a concentrate containing 17.8% CP and 79% TDN fed 1% LW/animal•day. The three traits were analyzed first as a function of period, when the total period was divided into three sub-periods, and, later, in the total period. General means for CPUPV, CONV and ADG were, respectively, 2.25 kg DM/100 kg LW/day, 6.75 kg DM/kg ADG and 1.587 kg/day. In the analysis by period, the genetic group (GPO) influenced all traits, except for CONV. GPO x period interaction was not significant for any of the three traits. The Charolais was better than the Ca for CONV (-0.861 kg of DM was /kg of ADG) and for ADG (0.163 kg/day). The difference (ChCa - CaCh) was significant for the three traits, and the ChCa was better than its reciprocal. The effect of heterosis was significant for ADG only. Rotational Ch x Ca crossbreeding was equal to Charolais and superior than Caracu.
beef cattle; dry matter intake; feed:gain ratio
