Energy-protein supplementation and mineral body development and ingestive behavior of crossbed Holstein x Gir heifer’s grazing in dry season

Abstract

The objective was to evaluate the effect of two levels of supplementation with sources of inorganic and organic minerals in the dry season on growth and ingestive behavior of crossbred Gir x Holstein, with an average of 19.4 ± 1.94 months and 307.75 ± 25.0 kg body weight , allotted to an completely randomized design with scheme factorial 2 x 2 (mineral x levels) with five replicates per treatment. The heifers remained on Brachiaria brizantha (Hochst. ex. A. Rich.) Stapf. cv. Marandu managed in a rotational grazing system, and treatments were supplementation sources of inorganic and organic minerals and two levels of 2.5 and 5.0 g/kg of body weight. The growth of heifers that received supplement in two levels with sources of inorganic minerals did not differ (P>0.05) from those that received sources of organic minerals. However, the heifers receiving 5.0 g/kg of body weight had higher average daily gain (0.476 kg/animal) compared with those receiving 2.5 g/kg of body weight (0.368 kg/animal). The performance of dairy heifers rearing pasture was similar when supplemented with organic or inorganic mineral sources.

Keywords

• ganho de peso
• mineral orgânico
• pasto
• recria de novilhas