<b>Supplements for Nellore rearing in dry season: performance, intake and nutrient digestibility</b> - doi: 10.4025/actascianimsci.v33i1.9100

Abstract

The objective was to evaluate the effect of supplementation with intake of 0, 0.25, 0.50 and 0.75% body weight (BW) of Nellore young bulls on intake, performance and apparent digestibility of nutrients during the dry season. A total of 116 Nellore young bulls were used with an average of nine months of age and body weight of 168 ± 35 kg. The study lasted 114 days, beginning on August 4 and ending on November 25, 2007. The design was completely randomized with four treatments and 29 replications for performance and five replications to evaluate intake and digestibility, in deferred Brachiaria brizantha grazing. The animals were weighed in beginning and end of the experiment. Forage DM intake showed a quadratic effect, with low point of 0.4% BW; CP, TC and TDN intake increased linearly; DWG, TWG and final body weight showed a quadratic effect, with the maximum point at around 0.60% BW. Apparent digestibility of DM, OM, CP, TC, NFC and TDN value showed a linear increase. It is recommended to supplement levels to 0.60% BW, in which maximum point performance was obtained, and where digestibility presents a linear increase, and the percentage of supplement resulted in increases in nutrient intake.