Frequency of concentrate supplementation for grazing beef cattle

• Autor(a) principal: Bonadimann, Ricardo
• Data de Publicação: 2017
• Outros Autores: Moraes, Eduardo Henrique Bevitori Kling de, Moraes, Kamila Andreatta Kling de, Pina, Douglas dos Santos, Oliveira, André Soares de, Meneses, Daniel Mendonça de, Stinguel, Helio, Almeida, Chafic Mustafé de
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Semina. Ciências Agrárias (Online)
• Texto Completo: https://ojs.uel.br/revistas/uel/index.php/semagrarias/article/view/27134
• topic: Performance; Grazing time; Economic viability.; Desempenho; Tempo de pastejo; Viabilidade econômica.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of frequency of concentrate supplementation on the daytime feeding behavior (grazing, rumination, drinking, and idle times), production performance, and economic viability of grazing cattle in the rainy season. A total of 120 uncastrated Nellore animals with an average body weight (BW) of 382.5 ± 32.2 kg were allocated to palisadegrass (Brachiaria brizantha) paddocks for the experiment. We evaluated supplements provided in the amount of 2.0 kg/animal, supplied three times weekly (3tw) or daily (7X). Animals supplemented 3X (5.46%) spent more time (%) drinking water than those supplemented 7X (3.72%). Grazing time and animal performance were not influenced by the frequency of supplementation. Average daily gain was 1.00 and 1.02 kg/animal for the groups under 3X and 7X, respectively. Expenditures on transportation and labor are lower (43%) when animals are supplemented 3X. Supplementation provided three times per week does not affect the grazing time or the performance of beef cattle in the rainy season, but rather implies an expressive reduction of expenditures on labor and distribution of supplements.