Recria de bezerras em azevém recebendo suplemento sob diferentes formas de fornecimento

Abstract

The work was carried out with the objective of evaluating the forage consumption and the performance of beef heifers in ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) pasture, receiving supplement in different forms of supply. The treatments were: 1) control without supplementation, 2) daily supplementation 1% of body weight (BW), 3) Ad Libitum supplementation in self-consumption. In supplement treatments, a ration with 10% sodium chloride was used to limit consumption. The grazing method was continuous with a variable number of animals. The experimental design was completely randomized, with measurements repeated in time, with three treatments and four replications of area. The average daily gain and the gain per area had no difference. Pasture dry matter intake was lower for calves that received supplement, regardless of whether it was daily supply or self-limiting, resulting in 7.8% less pasture intake compared to calves exclusively on ryegrass. It is concluded that daily supplementation does not bring benefits to production, thinking about increased weight gain and gain per area. Thus, self-consumption is a valid strategy to facilitate supplementation, with the exception that biologically the conversion efficiency can be affected by the consumption of a diet with a high salt content.