The study was conducted to evaluate the performance and carcass characteristics of crossbred young bulls in feedlot, fed rations with different levels of orange peel silage (0; 20; 40 or 60%) replacing the sorghum silage (% of dry matter). Thirty-six animals were allotted to individual pens, in a completely randomized design, with four treatments and nine replicates. The dry matter intake (DMI) showed a quadratic increase according to the level of orange peel silage in the diet. Average daily gain (ADG) was also quadratic behavior due to the increase of orange peel silage. It is estimated that level that allows maximum ADG is 24.50%. However, the ADG of the animals receiving diets with 20% of orange peel silage did not differ from those receiving sorghum silage or 40% of orange peel silage. The feed conversion ratio was not significantly affected (P>0.05) by treatments, with an average value of 6.52. Carcass characteristics were not altered (P>0.05) by treatments. Average values of 298.37 kg; 13.50; 135.14 cm; 26.35 cm; 72.17 cm²; 5.26 mm; 5.81; 64.54%; 21.05%; 15.09%, were observed for hot carcass weight, carcass conformation, carcass length, cushion thickness, rib eye area, subcutaneous fat thickness, marbling, and muscle, fat and bone yield, respectively. Orange peel silage can replace up to 40% of sorghum silage dry matter, with the same daily gain and without affecting carcass characteristics.
average daily gain; conformation; fat thickness; marbling; rib eye area