Nutritional and productive performance of grazing system beef heifers receiving multiple supplementation in the dry season

Abstract

This research was conducted to evaluate the effects of supplementation multiple on intake, digestibility, and microbial protein synthesis and, productive performance of grazing system receiving multiple supplementation in the dry season. Twelve Nellore heifers (averaging 214.6 ± 7.3 kg initial BW and 8.0 ± 0.10 months) were distributed to a completely randomized design in two treatments: unsupplemented (only mineral) and; supplemented (1 kg per animal day-1 of multiple supplement). Only the crude protein (CP) intake was increased by supplementation (P 0.05). In summary, the provision 1 kg per animal day-1 of multiple supplement for beef heifers in grazing system does not improve productive performance in dry season when there is adequate qualitative and quantitative availability of forage mass. However, provision of supplement increases the total nutrients digestibility and nitrogen statuses in the animals.

Keywords

• Digestibility
• Microbial protein
• Nellore
• Ruminant nutrition
• Supplement
• Pasture.