Effects of supplementation strategies for beef cattle in tropical grassland conditions

• Autor(a) principal: Carvalho, Venício Macêdo
• Data de Publicação: 2020
• Outros Autores: Silva, Robério Rodrigues, Lins, Túlio Otávio Jardim D`´Almeida, Lisboa, Mateus de Melo, Pereira, Maria Magna Silva, Abreu Filho, George, Silva, João Wilian Dias da, Souza, Sinvaldo Oliveira de, Avila, Vicente Diaz, Prado, Ivanor Nunes do
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Research, Society and Development
• Texto Completo: https://rsdjournal.org/index.php/rsd/article/view/6384
• topic: Crossbred steers; Mineral supplementation; Nitrogen supplementation; Tropical forage.; Novillos mestizos; Suplementación mineral; Suplementación nitrogenada; Pastura tropical.; Novilhos mestiços; Suplementação mineral; Suplementação nitrogenada; Forragem tropical.

This study was realized to evaluate the dry matter intake, nutrient digestibilities, and animal performance of crossbred steers grazing Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu, during the rainy season. Thirty-three crossbred steers with an average weight of 203.5 ± 39.5 kg were distributed in a completely randomized design with three treatments and eleven replications. The results were analyzed using an ANOVA and a Tukey test with a 5% probability of error. The three experimental diets were: MSA – mineral salt ad libitum; MSU - mineral salt + urea ad libitum and PSU - protein supplementation (0.1% of body weight). The dry matter intake of forage and total dry matter intake were similar (P > 0.05) among treatments. The dry matter, organic matter, neutral detergent fiber, crude protein, ether extract, non-fibrous carbohydrates and total carbohydrates digestibilitities coefficients were influenced (P < 0.05) by treatments. The final body weight, average daily gain, and feed efficiency were similar (P > 0.05) among treatments. The supplementation strategies used during the rainy season resulted in a similar performance; therefore, the strategy adopted could be chosen according to the economical and regional conditions of the production.