Feed intake and its prediction using the NRC, CNCPS and BR-Corte systems for confined young Zebu bulls

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the prediction of dry matter intake (DMI) using the CNCPS 5.0, NRC and BR-CUT systems, and of the nutrient intake of confined young Zebu bulls. A completely randomized experimental design of 44 animals as follows was used: 19 Nelore PO, 7 Nelore LA, 10 Tabapua PO e 8 Guzerat PO, with a mean initial live body weight of 394 ± 39, 348 ± 33, 346 ± 28 and 340 ± 30 kg  respectively, and a mean initial age of 13 months. The length of the experiment was 84 days. Individual food consumption was calculated with the use of LIPE ®, chromium oxide and indigestible acid detergent fiber (iADF) indicators. In order to compare the DMI as predicted by the systems to that observed, linear regression analysis was used. The Nellore LA group showed the lowest observed values for DMI (kg d-1). When assessing DMI as a percentage of live body weight (% BW) and in grams per kilogram of metabolic live weight (g kg-1 MW), a difference between genetic groups was found, with the highest values being observed for the Tabapua PO and Guzerat PO groups. The NRC, CNCPS 5.0 and BR-CUT systems under predicted the DMI. It can be concluded that the systems studied were not adequate for the prediction of the dry matter intake of confined young Zebu bulls.