The performance of crossbred (1/2 Holstein x Zebu) cows supplemented on Brachiaria decumbens pasture during the wet-dry transition period was evaluated. Eight cows with 497±50kg, during third and fourth lactations and after the lactation peak were distributed in two 4 x 4 Latin squares. The treatments consisted of a factorial with two types of mineral supplements (nitrogenous and mineral salt) and two levels of concentrate (0.3 and 0.6% body weight (BW)/cow/day), based on corn and soybean meal (60:40), and supplied during the morning and afternoon milking. The experiment lasted 56 days, divided into four periods of 14 days, with seven days for adaptation and seven for data collection. No interaction (P> 0.05) was observed between the supplements and the concentrate levels. The nitrogenous salt and the highest concentrate level increased (P< 0.05) the intake of crude protein, and the highest concentrate level increased (P< 0.05) the intake of non-fibrous carbohydrates and the digestibility of crude protein. No effect (P> 0.05) of supplement and concentrate level was observed on the milk constituents and feed efficiency. Grazing crossbred after the lactation peak during the wet-dry transition period achieve the productive potential with 0.3% BW of concentrate per day and mineral salt.
The objective this work was to evaluate the supplementation of cows on Brachiaria decumbens pasture during the rainy-dry transition. Eight 1/2 Holstein/Zebu cows (497 ± 50 kg) were distributed in two 4 x 4 Latin squares, with 2 x 2 factorial treatments (100% mineral salt versus nitrogen salt containing 25:25:50% urea: corn: mineral salt, and 1.5 versus 3.0 kg d-1 concentrate per cow). The experiment lasted 56 days, divided into four periods of 14 days, the last seven days for data collection. No interaction effect (p > 0.05) was detected between the supplement and the different levels of concentrate for any of the evaluated variables. No effect (p > 0.05) of supplement or concentrate level was observed on urinary excretions of purine derivatives, microbial nitrogen compounds and microbial efficiency. Nitrogen salt increased (p < 0.05) nitrogen intake and increased urinary nitrogen excretion, leading to a reduced nitrogen balance, while the higher concentrate level increased (p < 0.05) nitrogen intake and the total amount of nitrogen excreted in milk. Therefore, it is recommended, for crossbred cows in the rainy-dry transition period, the supply of 1.5 kg d-1 concentrate during milking, using only mineral salt instead of nitrogen salt at will on pasture.
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