Effect of frequency of protein energy supplementation on the performance of Nelore steers during the dry season

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the frequency of provision of protein energy supplementation on pasture during the dry period of the year on the performance of Nelore steers in rearing phase. FAZU teaching school conducted the experiment from July to September 2017. Twenty-two animals of the Nelore breed, aged 12 months and mean initial weight of 232.22 (± 20) kg, modules of 2 ha each, subdivided in six paddocks of Panicum maximum cultivars Mombaça and Tanzânia. The experimental design was completely randomized (DIC) and the averages were compared by the Tukey test at 5% significance. There was no significant difference between the three frequencies of supply of energy protein supplementation, in relation to the average daily weight gain, which were 837; 881 and 855g, at the frequencies of 7; 5 and 3 times per week, respectively. However, there was a significant difference (P <0.05) for the mean daily weight gain between the treatment in which the animals received mineral supplementation (434g), which was lower than the treatments in which the animals were fed with protein energy supplement at the level of 0.25% of body weight. In conclusion, during the period and in the evaluation conditions of this experiment, there was no difference in the effect of the frequency of supply of a protein energy supplement in the supply level of 0.25% of the animals' body weight. The average daily gain was higher for the animals that received the protein energy supplement compared to those supplemented with mineral. Five times a week supplementation obtained the best economic benefit among the evaluated frequencies.