Sustitución parcial de maíz por arroz con cáscara (GACC) en raciones de engorde de vacunos: efecto del procesamiento y humedad en consumo, digestión y comportamiento

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of partially replacing corn grain with paddy rice grain (PRRG) in steer fattening rations containing 20% ​​bale, as well as the effect of PRRG processing (cracked vs. ground) and moisture content (dry vs. wet) on animal intake, digestion, and performance. Traditionally, corn grain is the main ingredient in intensive fattening diets due to its high energy value and digestibility. PRRG was proposed as a potentially viable alternative, especially in the face of adverse market conditions or unfavorable weather conditions for the rice industry. The study was conducted at the Intensive Meat Production Unit (UPIC) of the Mario A. Cassinoni Experimental Station (EEMAC) in the city of Paysandú, Uruguay, under open-air confinement conditions. Forty-eight Hereford steers were randomly assigned in a block design to one of four experimental diets, which differed in grain type (corn or SGA), degree of SGA processing (cracked vs. ground), and SGA moisture level (dry vs. wet), offered ad libitum for 77 days. The animals were slaughtered on a fixed date at the Casa Blanca Slaughterhouse in the department of Paysandú. The results showed that the inclusion of ground GAS as a substitute for ground corn did not affect dry matter intake (P = 0.7051), but reduced dry matter digestibility (P = 0.0001) and consequently the daily intake of digestible dry matter (P = 0.0001). The inclusion of GAS is proposed as an alternative to partially replace corn in feedlot fattening diets for steers, opening a new opportunity to integrate rice production with livestock.