The objective of this trial was to evaluate the effect of different dietary fat sources on weight gain, feed conversion, and feeding costs in feedlot water buffalo steers. Thirteen castrated Murrah steers averaging 297±9 kg of body weigh were assigned to one of the following three treatments: no added fat (control), soybean oil or whole soybean in a completely randomized design. The experiment lasted 84 days with three experimental periods of 28 days each. Samples of feeds, orts and feces were collected in the last six days of each period for determination of intake. Diets were fed twice a day (8 a.m. and 4 p.m.) as total mixed ration and the amount of feed offered was adjusted daily to yield refusals equal to approximately 10 to 20% of intake. Body weight was measured at the beginning and at the end of each experimental period after 16 hours of fasting. The average daily weight gain was 990, 1,090 and 1,280 g/day for animals fed the control, whole soybean, and soybean oil diets, respectively. Feed conversion was greatest in the diet containing soybean oil while that containing whole soybean resulted in the highest costs. The soybean oil diet increased performance and reduced costs; therefore, it can be used to improve meat production in feedlot water buffalo.
feedlot; soybean oil; water buffalo; whole soybean
