The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of feeding sugarcane bagasse, obtained by extraction of sugar using diffusion (BINdif) or conventional milling (BINmoa) method, as a fiber source associated with bagasse treated under pressure and steam (BTPV) on nutrient digestibility and ruminal characteristics in beef cattle. Four Nellore young bulls (380 kg BW), fitted with ruminal cannula, were assigned to a 4 × 4 Latin Square design. Combination of bagasse in a 50:50 (concentrate:roughage) experimental rations were: 5% BINmoa + 45% BTPV; 5% BINdif + 45% BTPV; 10% BINdif + 40% BTPV; 15% BINdif + 35% BTPV. There was no effect of using BINdif on digestibility of nutrients (DM, OM, CP, NDF, ADF and EE) of the diets. However, feeding bagasse obtained by diffusion reduced DM, OM and NDF intakes when compared to bagasse obtained by milling. Total production of ruminal volatile fatty acids, molar percentage of acetic, propionic and butyric acids, acetate:propionate ratio, ruminal pH and ammonia nitrogen concentration did not differ among treatments. Feeding sugarcane bagasse obtained by diffusion or conventional milling method, as source of raw fiber, associated with hydrolized bagasse by pressure and steam had no detrimental effect on nutrient digestibility and ruminal characteristics in beef cattle fed diets containing 50% concentrate.
byproducts; fiber source; Nellore; volatile fatty acids
