The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of increasing concentrate supplementation levels on the intake, nutrient digestibility, and performance of crossbred steers during the dry period of the year. The experiment was developed on Princesa do Mateiro farm, in the municipality of Ribeirão do Largo, located in the southwest region of Bahia State, Brazil. Forty uncastrated male crossbred (½ Holstein-Zebu) steers with an average body weight (BW) of 232.55 ± 24.97 kg were distributed into four treatments in a completely randomized design with ten replicates. The animals were managed in an experimental area formed by Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu, in an intermittent grazing system. Treatments consisted of the following supplementation levels: 0.2% BW, with 60% crude protein (CP); 0.3% BW, with 40% CP; 0.4% BW, with 30% CP; and 0.5% BW, with 24% CP. The intakes of forage dry matter in kg/day and %BW and neutral detergent fiber corrected for ash and protein (NDFap) in %BW decreased linearly, whereas the intake of non-fibrous carbohydrates corrected for ash and protein in kg/day and average daily gain increased linearly. Therefore, the use of supplementation at 0.5% BW (24% crude protein) to provide gains of up to 0.500 kg/day is recommended for grazing steers during the post-weaning period in the dry season of the year.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between production performance and feeding behavior of steers reared on pasture during the rainy-dry transition period. Twenty-two ½ Holstein-Zebu crossbred steers at an average age of 10 months and with an average initial body weight of 234.5 ± 16.0 kg were distributed in a completely randomized design with two types of supplementation and eleven replications. Pearson's linear correlation analysis was performed between behavioral variables and weight gain and feed conversion. Correlation coefficients were tested by the t test. The time expended feeding at the trough was positively correlated (P < 0.05) with average daily gain (ADG) and with the number of periods of permanence at the trough. Bite rate and the number of bites per day were positively correlated (P < 0.05) with ADG and negatively (P < 0.05) with feed conversion, unlike the number of bites per swallow, which was negatively correlated (P < 0.05) with ADG. There was a positive correlation (P < 0.05) between feed efficiency in dry matter and neutral detergent fiber and ADG. Feeding behavior characteristics have little association with the production performance of cattle on pasture receiving mineral or energy-protein supplementation.
ResumoObjetivou-se, com este estudo, avaliar a composição química do pasto de capim marandu consorciado com amendoim forrageiro ou adubado com N e as características das carcaças de bovinos de corte. A pastagem foi manejada sob pastejo rotacionado com lotação contínua, e carga animal variável, utilizando-se 16 novilhos da raça nelore. Na avaliação de produção de matéria seca verde total, foram observadas significâncias estatísticas entre os tratamentos e períodos avaliados, sendo que o tratamento com o consórcio apresentou uma maior média. A variável proteína bruta (PB) apresentou significância entre os tratamentos e períodos avaliados. Os teores de nutrientes digestíveis totais (NDT) e fibras em detergente neutro (FDN) não apresentaram efeito significativo na avaliação da gramínea. Os períodos que apresentaram os menores ganhos médios diários (GMD) foram o quarto e sexto períodos. Para os teores de PB, NDT e FDN da leguminosa, o terceiro período foi o que apresentou as menores médias. Para as variáveis GMD, número de animais por dia (NAD), GPV, a estatística apresentou significância para a interação, sendo que o primeiro período do tratamento com o consórcio apresentou as maiores médias. No tratamento da adubação, as maiores taxas de lotação foram conseguidas nas estações onde ocorreram as adubações químicas. Foi observada significância estatística para a variável conformação na classificação das carcaças. O consórcio do amendoim forrageiro cv. Belmonte pode ser utilizado em substituição à adubação, com 120kg/N/ha, pois garante o mesmo ganho de peso por animal, sem alterar as características comerciais das carcaças.
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