The objective ofthis trial was to investigate the effects of partially replacing ground cornwith coffee hulls (0.0, 8.75, 17.5 and 26.25% of concentrate DM) on nutrientintake, apparent total tract digestibility, and daily weight gain of dairy heifers.Twenty-four Holstein x Zebu heifers were assigned to a randomized complete blockdesign with four treatments and six replicates. Diets were isonitrogenous (15.5%CP) and contained 60% of Tifton-85 haylage and 40% of concentrate. Intakes ofdry matter (6.75 kg/day), organic matter (6.23 kg/day), CP (1.04 kg/day), totalcarbohydrates (5.01 kg/day), and neutral detergent fiber (3.11 kg/day) werenot changed whereas those of nonfiber carbohydrates (NFC) and total digestiblenutrients (TDN) decreased linearly by inclusion of coffee hulls in the diet.Apparent total tract digestibilities of dry matter, organic matter, CP, totalcarbohydrates, neutral detergent fiber, NFC, and TDN all decreased linearlyby partially replacing ground corn with coffee hulls. Daily weight gain decreased6.94 g per each percentage unit of coffee hulls added to the diet. However,inclusion of up to 17.5% of coffee hulls (7.0% of the diet DM) maintaineddaily weight gain similar to those obtained with 0.0 and 8.75% of coffeehulls in the concentrate.
