Alternativas de mineralização na recria de novilhas de corte em pastagem de papuã

Abstract

Body performance of beef heifers grazing Alexadergrass pasture (Urochloa plantaginea (Link) Hitch) was evaluated, receiving different mineralization alternatives. Was quantified the supplement intake and the economic return of each mineral supplement. The mineralization alternatives used were: "common salt" (sodium chloride); "Ionophore salt": (mineral salt with addition of ionophore); "Protein salt": mineral energy protein salt. The average daily gain was higher when heifers received energy protein salt (867.3 ± 52.0 grams), 15.4% higher than the other mineralization alternatives (751.4 ± 52.0 grams). Heifers receiving energy protein salt presented higher body condition score (3,5; BCS). The animals that consumed ionophore salt had similar BCS from the animals that consumed common salt (3.35 ± 0.06). Common salt consumption was constant during the use of the papuã, with average intake of 50 g/day and 0.01%, respectively for daily consumption of mineralization by heifer in % of body weight (BW). The ingestion of salt with ionophore addition was linearly decreasing, with a reduction of 0.00014% of BW per day of Alexadergrass pasture use and the energetic protein salt intake was linearly increased during the pasture cycle, with an increase of 0.0016% with each day of pasture use. The daily cost per heifer with mineralization was R$ 0.035, R$ 0.19 and R$ 0.42, respectively, for common salt, mineral salt with addition of ionophore and energy protein salt. The mineral energy protein supplement intake modifies the performance of heifers grazing Alexadergrass pasture, with an increase in body condition score and average daily gain. Protein salt intake and the cost are larger in relation to other alternatives of mineralization. The increase in the average daily gain generated by the protein salt intake allows the greater profit.