Effect of protein supplementations in the live weight gain of dairy heifers grazing on Brachiaria decumbens Stapf, pasture

Authors

  • Edison Valvasori Instituto de Zootecnia, Divisão de Zootecnia de Bovinos Leiteiros, Seção de Criação e Manejo do Gado Leiteiro, Nova Odessa, SP
  • João Delistoianov Instituto de Zootecnia, Estação Experimental de Zootecnia de Colina, SP
  • Edgard Leone Caielli Instituto de Zootecnia, Divisão de Nutrição Animal e Pastagens, Seção de Avaliação de Forragens, Nova Odessa, SP
  • Wander Ramos Ribeiro Instituto de Zootecnia, Estação Experimental de Zootecnia de Colina, SP

Abstract

To study the effects of protein supplementation on weight gain of 5/8 european heifers in Brachiaria decumbens Stapf. pastures, 32 heifers with a mean liveweight of 164kg and 9 to 13 months in the beginning of the trial were utilized on a randomized block design with the following treatments: A only pasture; B = pasture + 250 g /animal/day of soybean meal during the year; C = pasture + 500 g/animal/day of soybean meal during the year; and D = pasture + 500 g/animal/day of soybean meal only during the dry season. It was observed a difference (P < 0.05) between treatment D and the others during the dry seasons of the first and second year. The animals supplemented during the dry season reached 300 kg of live weight 2.5 months earlier than the not supplemented. During the rainy season of the second year a compensatory growth on the unsupplemented animals was observed because of the pasture improvement.

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Published

2014-01-29

Issue

Section

ANIMAL NUTRITION

How to Cite

Effect of protein supplementations in the live weight gain of dairy heifers grazing on Brachiaria decumbens Stapf, pasture. (2014). Bulletin of Animal Husbandry, 43(1), 27-32. http://bia.iz.sp.gov.br/index.php/bia/article/view/603

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