Avaliaçao do farelo de gérmen de milho na alimentaçao de bezerros de raças leiteiras

This work examined the effects of including of 25, 50, 75 and 100 percent of corn germ meal (CGM) to replace ground corn (GC) and soybean meal (SM) in the feeding of dairy calves. Thirty calves (10 HPC, 10 7HZ/8 and 10 3HZ/4) were used from birth to 98 days of age. Five starters (S) were studied: SI (0 percent CGM), S2 (25 percent CGM), S3 (50 percent CGM), S4 (75 CGM) and S5 (100 percent CGM) and three genetic groups: HPC, 3HZ/4 and 7HZ/8, with two replications were, alloted to a 5 x 3 factorial arrangement on a completely randomized design. The starters, the elephantgrass (Pennisetum purpureum, Schum) and the water were available to the animals from their first day of life. The maximum stater used was 2 kg per animal per day. There were no differences among the starters, genetic groups and interaction for the parameters analyzed: calf starter intake, weight gain, feed/gain ratio, live weight and bone growth (increment on height in the withers and in the thorax. Animals which received S1 starter showed a better feed/gain ratio than animals which received S3, S2, S4 and S5 starters. Economic evaluation of the results showed that S4 was more efficient. It was concluded that corn germ meal can substitute for 100 percent of ground corn and soybean meal, in calves starters.