The objective of the present research was to evaluate performance, digestibility and consumption of cattle receiving diets based on in natura or hydrolyzed sugar cane, with two concentrations of calcium hydroxide. Eighteen Nelore steers with approximately 390 kg of body weight were distributed in a randomized block design, based on live weight. Animals received complete diets containing 70% roughage (sugar cane in natura, and hydrolyzed treated with calcium hydroxide at 0.5% or 0.9%), and 30% concentrate. Diets were formulated to meet the requirements of maintenance and weight gain of 750 g/animal/day. The performance of the animals was evaluated on the basis of weight gain, which was higher for the treatments with sugar cane in natura (1.32 kg/day) or with 0.5% of calcium hydroxide (1.23 kg/day), compared with the 0.9% treatment (1.08 kg/day), respectively. Sugar cane in natura had better dry matter digestibility (69.1% vs. 62% for the treated sugar cane). Although the addition of 0.5% of calcium hydroxide led to lower digestibility, this treatment did not affect the performance of the animals, which presented daily gain similar to the treatment with in natura sugar cane.
alkali treatment; hydrolysis; micro processed; Saccharum spp
