Palha de trevo vesiculoso (Trifolium vesiculosum Savi cv. Yuchi) como substituto da silagem de milho na alimentação de novilhos confinados

The objective of the experiment was to evaluate the use of clover straw as partial substitute for corn silage in the roughage fraction of the diet of confined steers, being tested the following substitution levels: T0 with 100% of corn silage; T25 with 75% corn silage and 25% clover straw; T50 with 50% corn silage and 50% clover straw; T75 with 25% corn silage and 75% clover straw. The concentrate content in the diet was 32.5%. The diets were fed during 112 days for steers with an initial average weight and age of 265 ± 1.65kg and 18 months, respectively. The data were submitted to regression analysis, for the substitution level (SL) of corn silage by clover straw in the roughage fraction of the diet. Dry matter intake (DMI) expressed in kg of DM/100 kg of LW (DMIP) or in g/kg PV.75 (DMIM) declined linearly as the level of clover straw increased. Daily digestible energy intake expressed in Mcal/100 kg of LW (DEIP) also declined acoording to the following regression equation: DEIP = 7.22905 - .0259 (SL). The observed average daily weight gain (ADG) was 1.25; 1.18; 1.07 and 1.01kg, respectively. The regression analysis showed that the increase of one percentile unit of substitution of corn silage by clover straw, caused a decline of 3.47g on the ADG and worsen the food convertion in .017 units. Although causing a reduction in animal performace, the inclusion of clower straw in the diet of cattle is viable, considering that even in the highest level of substitution the ADG of the steers was one kilogram.