Performance, plasmaticparameters and carcass traits of 24 3/4 Simmental 1/4 Nellore steers with 370kg initial average weight was evaluated. The experimental diets were composedby corn silage (55%) and concentrate with sunflower meal as protein source andground corn as energy source (MI). Ground corn was partially substituted bysoybean hulls (CS) or by corn meal (FGM). The period of intake and average weightgain evaluation was 49 days. Blood samples were collected to measure plasmaticparameters: glucose, urea, total protein and albumin. Right half frozen carcasswas used to measure the loin eye area (LEA), fat thickness (FT) and carcasslength. Diets did not influence plasma parameters. The average of plasmaticurea was high (26 mg/dL), in relation to normal serum pattern. The differentenergy sources did not affect average weight gain and feed intake:gain ratio,with averages of 1.15 kg/day and 9.17 kg DM feed intake/kg gain. Diet did notinfluence dressing percentage (52.8% final weight and 63.1% of empty body weight),LEA (63.6 cm2) and FT (4.7 mm). Soybean hulls and corn meal couldreplace partially ground corn without affecting performance and carcass traitson steers, allowing that the ingredients choice be realized through economicanalysis.
