Nutritional management of steers raised in graze and in feedlot: intake, digestibility, performance and economic viability

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate nutrient intake and digestibility, performance and economic viability of steers during the rearing phase in Brachiaria brizantha cultivar Marandu graze and in feedlot. Were used fifty crossbred steers in the rearing phase, with a mean weight of 275 ± 8.18 kg, distributed in a completely randomized design with ten replications per treatments: Mineral supplementation, nitrogen supplementation, Concentrate supplementation in the order of 1 and 2 g/kg body weight and total feedlot. The total dry matter intake and body weight showed a difference (P<0.05) for animals in feedlot. Crude protein, ether extract, neutral detergent fiber corrected for ashes and protein, non-fibrous carbohydrates, total digestible nutrients showed differences for the animals that received mineral supplementation in comparison to the other managements adopted. The same performance was observed for animals in feedlot. The digestibility coefficients of dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, non-fibrous carbohydrates and total digestible nutrients showed a difference (P<0.05) for the animals that received mineral supplementation, in comparison to the other managements adopted. (P<0.05). The mean daily gain was lower (P<0.05) for animals receiving mineral supplementation. The gross margin was higher (P<0.05) for animals handled in feedlot. Considering the obtained results, it was possible to observe that the animals kept in graze with good availability of dry matter presented satisfactory performance. It is feasible to confine the animals in rearing, since it shortens the production cycle, generating favorable economic results.

Keywords

• cattle
• ingestion
• management
• nutrients