Coutinho Filho et al., 2005. Pesq. Agropec. Bras., 40 (8): 817-823
Desenvolvimento ponderal de bezerras desmamadas em pastejo de Brachiaria decumbens com suplementação protéica e energética
A total of 36 Santa Gertrudis calves (194 kg body weight, 290 days of age) grazing on a Brachiaria decumbens pasture were divided into two groups which were supplemented with a mineral mix only, based on degradable protein during the dry season (control), and a supplement based on non-degradable protein (escape protein) during the wet season ad libitum in a completely randomized design. It was shown that there was a significant difference in average daily liveweight gain between treatments, being 0.504 and 0.561 kg/animal/day in the control and experimental groups, respectively. Supplemented calves showed a significantly higher average daily liveweight gain in the dry season but not during the wet season. Pasture supplementation had no bioeconomic advantages and is therefore not recommended. In both treatments, the calves reached the average weight limit for first mating at approximately 14 months of age.