The aim of the present experiment was to investigate the effects of using steam treated sugarcane pith (STSP) as a substitute for part of the corn silage in the diet of finishing calves on performance, optimal use of available food sources, and probably reducing the costs of production. Twenty-four Holstein male calves with a mean weight of 195 kg and 5 months old were assigned to three treatments included: 1) control diet, 2) and 3) diets containing 6% and 12% STSP, respectively. The performance characteristics of calves in-cluding weight gain, average daily gain, feed conversion ratio, feed efficiency, and digestibility of nutrients were measured. The final weight, total weight gain, average daily gain, feed conversion ratio, and feed effi-ciency were the same in all treatments (P>0.05). Consumption of nutrients, except ether extract, was not influenced by dietary treatments. The treatments caused no increase in digestibility of dry matter, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) (P>0.05) and a significant increase in crude protein (P<0.05). The concentration of ammonia nitrogen, volatile fatty acids, and pH of rumen liquor, and blood glucose and blood urea nitrogen were not influenced by treatments. The chewing and rumination time ad-justed for ADF intake was decreased in diets containing STSP (P<0.05). Therefore, the use of STSP as a replacement for part of corn silage in the diet of finishing calves did not have an adverse effect on perform-ance and could be a proper alternative in the diet.

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