Artigo Acesso aberto Produção Nacional

Supplementation strategies for grazing beef cattle during the rainy-dry transition period

2017; UNIVERSIDADE ESTADUAL DE LONDRINA; Volume: 38; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.5433/1679-0359.2017v38n2p895

ISSN

1679-0359

Autores

Eduardo Henrique Bevitori Kling de Moraes, Mário Fonseca Paulino, Kamila Andreatta Kling de Moraes, Sebastião de Campos Valadares Filho, Edênio Detmann, Victor Rezende Moreira Couto,

Tópico(s)

Pasture and Agricultural Systems

Resumo

An experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of supplementation strategies on intake, digestibility, and performance of Nellore cattle on pasture (Urochloa decumbens) during the rainy-dry transition period. The evaluated strategies were mineral supplementation (MS), self-feed supplementation (SF), and infrequent concentrate supplementation. Supplementation frequencies were three times per week (Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays - 3tw) and daily (7tw). Animals receiving concentrate supplementation had higher pasture DM and TDN intakes than those fed MS. There was no difference (P > 0.10) between concentrate supplementation strategies. Average pasture DM intake was 7.89, 8.09, and 8.10 kg day?1 for SF, 3tw, and 7tw, respectively. No effects were found (P > 0.10) between SF and infrequent supplementation, or for the supplementation frequencies tested. The lowest average daily gain (ADG) (P < 0.10) was found for animals fed MS, and there was no difference between concentrate supplementation strategies for this variable. Average daily gains for MS, SC, 3tw, and 7tw were 661.4, 812.7, 811.5 and 819.2 g/animal, respectively. During the rainy-dry transition period, grazing beef cattle receiving concentrate supplementation have higher pasture and TDN intakes and better performance than animals fed mineral supplement only. Self-feed supplementation or supplementation provided three days per week do not compromise pasture and TDN intakes, nutrient digestibility, or performance of grazing beef cattle.

Referência(s)