The objective of this study was to evaluate body condition, weight, weight gain, food intake and efficiency of feedlot finished steers, purebreds (Charolais - C and Nellore - N), crossbreds from second (G2) (¾C ¼N and ¾N ¼C), third (G3) (5/8C 3/8N and 5/8N 3/8C) and fourth (G4) (11/16C 5/16N and 11/16N 5/16C) generations of rotational crossbreeding. The steers were fed the same diet containing 12.32% crude protein, 2.96 Mcal digestible energy/kg of dry matter and roughage:concentrate ratio of 52: 48. Average daily intakes of dry matter, digestible energy, neutral and acid detergent fiber expressed by kg/animal were higher for crossbreds in all generations. However, when these intakes were expressed per 100 kg of body weight differences were not significant. Retained heterosis (5.46%) was significant for average daily weight gain. Heterosis for efficiency of feed (kg of weight gain/kg of dry matter) and energy (kg of weight gain/Mcal of digestible energy) were negative in all generations, indicating that crossbred steers were less efficient than purebreds. Heterosis (%) for initial and final body weights and condition were expressive and significant in all generations and the level of heterosis for these traits followed the fluctuation of individual heterozygosis. Rotational crossbreeding animals were superior to purebreds for dry matter intake, body weight and condition, similar to Nellore for feed efficiency and inferior to Charolais for feed efficiency and average daily weight gain.
Bos indicus; Bos taurus; feed intake; heterosis; weight gain
