Replacing ground maize (GM) with steam-rolled maize typically increases feed efficiency in maize-silage-based diets. However, little is known about optimal carbohydrate supplementation in sugarcane silage-based diets. The objective was to quantify the effect of partially replacing GM with steam-rolled maize (SRM) or pelleted citrus pulp (PCP) at two concentrate levels (600 or 800 g/kg DM) in sugarcane-based diets on feeding behaviour, performance and blood parameters of finishing Nellore bulls. One hundred and eight young bulls were allocated to 36 pens in a randomized block design and fed for 84 d. Feeding 800 g/kg concentrate decreased time spending eating and ruminating, but improved G:F ratio, hot carcass weight and carcass dressing, compared to 600 g/kg concentrate. Bulls fed SRM and PCP diets with 600 g/kg concentrate had lower intake compared to GM. Both final weight and average daily gain decreased when bulls were fed PCP and SRM with 600 g/kg concentrate compared to GM diets, and when fed with PCP and 800 g/kg concentrate. Substituting PCP for GM decreased gain efficiency, carcass weight, rumination time and intake efficiency, indicating that the bulls consumed less feed per hour spent eating. Substituting SRM for GM increased backfat thickness and blood urea concentration. In conclusion, the replacement of GM with PCP reduces intake and enhances selection against large particles, decreasing rumination, performance and final carcass weight and dressing. Replacement of GM with SRM increases blood urea and fat deposition, with no impact on performance.

Despite intense discussion of the glycaemic index (GI) and glycaemic load (GL) concepts, data on the GI or GL levels in the diet of children are scarce. The present analysis determined trends in the levels of GI or GL of healthy children from 1990 to 2002 and examined the contribution of carbohydrate (CHO) sources to the overall GL, and the relationships of the GI and GL to the overall dietary quality. The analysis includes three cohorts of participants from the Dortmund Nutritional and Anthropometrical Longitudinally Designed study, aged 7–8 years in 1990 (n 53), 1996 (n 46) and 2002 (n 56). A GI value was assigned to all CHO foods recorded over three consecutive days. In comparison with 1990, 7–8-year-old children in 2002 had slightly higher GI (56·5 v. 55·1%; P=0·03) and GL (17·5 v. 16·7g/MJ; P=0·04) levels. In all three time periods the combined contribution of the ‘tolerated food groups’ (i.e. sweets, soft drinks, cakes and cookies, and salty snacks) to the overall GL exceeded that of bread and rolls (1990, 31 v. 24%; 1996, 29 v. 31%; 2002, 28 v. 25%). Conversely, rice and fried or mashed potatoes had only a minor impact. Children in the lowest GI tertile, but not those in the lowest GL tertile, had a better nutrient profile and a more favourable food choice. In conclusion, partial replacement of high-GI ‘tolerated food groups’ for low-GI foods would help to reverse the slight recent increases in GI and GL, and to improve the overall dietary quality of 7–8-year-old children.