The intake, the apparent digestibility of nutrients and the ingestion behavior of four Holstein steers with average weight of 300 kg and 20 months of age, receiving diets containing Tifton 85 hay with different particle sizes (5, 7, 10 mm and whole) were evaluated. A 4 × 4 Latin square experimental design with four steers and four periods was used. Intakes of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, ether extract, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, total carbohydrates and non-structural carbohydrates were not influenced by the different granulometric profiles of the experimental diets. The DM digestibility were different between diets with particles size of 7 and 10 mm (67.31 and 54.95%, respectively). However, these diets were similar to that with 5 mm of particle size and whole hay, which showed intermediate values, with mean of 63.62%. The total feeding time of the animals that received diets with particles size of 7, 10 mm and whole did not differ. The Tifton 85 hay with different particles size did not affect the intake, digestibility of nutrients and the ingestion behavior of Holstein steers fed total mixed ration.
effective fiber; granulometric profile; rumination; ruminants
