-It was used 27 goat kids (18 ¾ Boer + ¼ Saanen and nine Saanen; 18.0 ± 1.60 kg) distributed in a completely randomized design with factorial arrangement to evaluate productive performance and the total digestibility of dry matter and nutrients in the rations. Diets were composed of soybean meal, soybean meal + dry yeast or dry yeast as protein source, oat hay, ground corn and vitamin-mineral mixture with mean composition of 2.50 Mcal of ME/kg DM and 17.0% of crude protein on average. Digestibility was determined using indigestible neutral detergent fiber as marker. Intakes of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein and total carbohydrates were not altered by rations. However, inclusion of dry yeast in the rations reduced ingestions of ether extract, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber. Within breed groups, the ¾ Boer + ¼ Saanen goat kids showed the highest intakes of dry matter and nutrients, as well as the best means of daily gain, feed conversion and days in feedlot. Digestibilities of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein and total carbohydrates were higer -and the digesbility of ether extract was lower -for animals fed rations with dry yeast. There were no differences in digestibility of neutral detergent fiber. Rations with dry yeast showed the highest values of total digestible nutrients. Dry yeast can be used as alternative protein source in rations for goat kids because it does not change animal performance and it does have higher nutritional value than soybean meal. ¾ Boer + ¼ Saanen kids show, in feedlots, better performance in growth and finishing phases when compared to Saanen kids.Key Words: digestibility, goats, intake, performance, Saccharomyces cerevisiae Levedura seca de cana-de-açúcar na alimentação de cabritos em crescimento e terminação RESUMO -Foram utilizados 27 cabritos (18 ¾ Boer + ¼ Saanen e 9 Saanen; 18,0 ± 1,60 kg) distribuídos em delineamento inteiramente casualizado com arranjo fatorial para avaliar o desempenho produtivo e a digestibilidade total da matéria seca e dos nutrientes das rações. As dietas foram compostas de farelo de soja, farelo de soja + levedura seca ou levedura seca como fonte de proteína, feno de aveia, milho moído e mistura vitamínico-mineral, com composição média de 2,50 Mcal de EM/kg de matéria seca e 17,0% de proteína bruta. A digestibilidade foi determinada utilizando-se fibra em detergente neutro indigestível como indicador. As ingestões de matéria seca, matéria orgânica, proteína bruta e carboidratos totais não foram influenciadas pelas rações. No entanto, a inclusão de levedura seca nas rações reduziu as ingestões de extrato etéreo, fibra em detergente neutro e fibra em detergente ácido. Dentro dos grupos raciais, os cabritos ¾ Boer + ¼ Saanen foram os que apresentaram maior ingestão de matéria seca e nutrientes, assim como melhores médias de ganho diário, conversão alimentar e dias em confinamento. A digestibilidade de matéria seca, matéria orgânica, proteína bruta e carboidratos totais foi maior -e a de extrato etéreo menor -no...

ABSTRACT. The effect of selection for postweaning weight was evaluated within the growth curve parameters for both growth and carcass traits. Records of 2404 Nellore animals from three selection lines were analyzed: two selection lines for high postweaning weight, selection (NeS) and traditional (NeT); and a control line (NeC) in which animals were selected for postweaning weight close to the average. Body weight (BW), hip height (HH), rib eye area (REA), back fat thickness (BFT), and rump fat thickness (RFT) were measured and records collected from animals 8 to 20 (males) and 11 to 26 (females) months of age. The parameters A (asymptotic value) and k (growth rate) were estimated using the nonlinear model procedure of the Statistical Analysis System program, which included fixed effect of line (NeS, NeT, and NeC) in the model, with the objective to evaluate differences in the estimated parameters between lines. Selected animals (NeS and NeT) showed higher growth rates than control line animals (NeC) for all traits. Line effect on curves parameters was significant (P < 0.001) for BW, HH, and REA in males, and for BFT and RFT in females. Selection