| Summary: | The aim of this study was to evaluate the intake, weight gain, feed:gain ratio, carcass quality and
economic viability of using fresh sugar cane and mombaça grass silage in Brangus castrated and
intact males on termination. We used 140 Brangus cattle, with an average of 21 months and 355
kg live weight, identified and randomly assigned to treatments: T1, 37 intac males and T2, 37
castrated animals receiving both fresh sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum ) crushed;T3, 33 intact
males and T4, 33 castrated animals, both fed mombaça grass silage (Panicum maximum cv
mombaça). For economic evaluation, it was estimated the production costs of bulky coming from
the farm costs, expenses concentrates, diesel, hand labor, equipment maintenance and control of
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Colloquium Agrariae, v. 10, n.1, Jan-Jun. 2014, p.45-54. DOI: 10.5747/ca.2014.v10.n1.a099
parasites were also considered. The final weight of the entire animal was higher (P <0.05) than
castrated animals. And feed conversion was higher in castrated animals, indicating that the bulls
were more efficient in converting food into weight gain. The higher net revenue observed in intact
males (mombaça) is justified by the greater weight gain and lower diet costs. Animals that
received diet with mombaça grass silage had greater economic feasibility of that received diet
with sugar cane.
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