This chart allows four well-defined groups to be identified. The first group was formed by individuals that were fed with CrSq, the second by SiSq, the third by Cr and Sq, and the fourth by SiCrSq. Taking into consideration that DG proteins and muscle glycogen were the two metabolites that had the strongest influence on the separation of groups in canonical analysis, regression analysis between both metabolites and growth rate were performed (Fig. 2). These analyses showed that muscle glycogen and digestive concentration are positively related to growth. Animals with high values of SGR% day− 1 showed high values of DG proteins and muscle glycogen (CrSq diet) while low values of SGR% day− 1 were related with low values of both metabolites in animals fed silage diets (Fig. 2).