RESUMO Objetivou-se avaliar estratégias de suplementação sobre o ganho médio diário (GMD) de bovinos pastejando capim-colonião (Panicum maximum) sob lotação rotacionada na estação chuvosa. Também foi avaliado o efeito residual na fase de terminação em confinamento. Setenta e cinco bezerros mestiços não-castrados de oito meses com peso corporal (PC) médio de 200,1 ± 2,5 kg foram estratificados e agrupados de acordo com PC, distribuídos em 25 blocos, e aleatorizados entre três tratamentos: controle (sem suplementação), suplemento energético [65 g de proteína bruta (PB)/kg matéria seca (MS)] ou suplemento proteico (200 g PB/kg MS) ambos fornecidos a 6 g/kg PC. Os animais compuseram um único rebanho sendo separados diariamente de acordo com o tratamento para suplementação. Após a fase de pastejo, esses foram movidos para um confinamento onde receberam a mesma dieta até o abate. O capim-colonião foi pastejado sob lotação rotacionada com altura média pré- e pós-pastejo de 76 e 43 cm, respectivamente. Os suplementos proporcionaram GMD semelhante (P > 0,05; 0,94 kg/dia) e superior ao dos animais não suplementados na fase de pastejo (P < 0,05; 0,74 kg/dia) e sem diferença na fase de confinamento (P > 0,05; 1,45 kg/dia). O suplemento proteico não proporciona ganho adicional sobre o energético, sem diferenças sobre o GMD e as características de carcaça de tourinhos mestiços durante a fase de pastejo, indicando que ambas as fontes de suplementação podem ser utilizadas baseado no custo e na disponibilidade, e indicando que o suplemento energético poderia proporcionar uso mais eficiente dos nutrientes contidos na forragem.

ABSTRACT To evaluate the influence of supplementation strategies on the average daily gain (ADG) of cattle in a rotational grazing system of Guinea grass (Panicum maximum cv. Coloniao) pastures during the rainy season. It was further evaluated the residual effects in the feedlot finishing phase. Seventy-five 8 month-old crossbred bull calves averaging 200.1 ± 2.5 kg of body weight (BW) were stratified and grouped in three into 25 blocks according to BW, and then randomly assigned to one of three supplementation treatments: control (no supplement), energy supplement [65 g crude protein (CP)/kg dry matter (DM)] or protein supplement (200 g CP/kg DM) both fed as 6 g/kg BW. All animals composed a single herd and were separated daily according to treatment groups for supplementation. After the grazing phase, all animals were moved to a feedlot and received the same diet up until slaughter. Guinea grass was subjected to rotational stocking with pre- and post-grazing heights of 76 and 43 cm, respectively. Energy and protein supplements provided similar ADG (P > 0.05; 0.94 kg/day) which was greater than for non-supplemented animals during the grazing phase (P ≤ 0.05; 0.74 kg/day), but there was no difference in the subsequent feedlot phase (P > 0.05; 1.45 kg/day). The protein supplement had no incremental effects over the energy supplement on ADG and carcass traits of growing crossbreed bulls during the grazing phase, indicating that either source could be used, and that an energy supplement would lead to more efficient nutrient use coming from the grass.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of grazing intensity on herbage accumulation, animal performance, and total system yield on irrigated Tanzania grass pastures under rotational stocking. The experiment was conducted from October 1999 to January 2001, in a complete randomized block design with four replications. Treatments consisted of three grazing intensities, represented by the following quantities of green forage dry mass remaining after grazing: 1,000 (high intensity), 2,500 (intermediate intensity) and 4,000 (low intensity) kg ha−1. Grazing cycles were of 36 days (33 rest and 3 grazing). The values observed at the end of the experiment for post grazing forage mass were close to the proposed values. Forage yield was 25,278, 36,850, and 34,144 kg DM ha−1, whereas animal performance was 0.398, 0.541, and 0.564 kg BW day−1for high, intermediate and low intensities, respectively. Grazing intensity was positive related to the stocking rate (6.5, 5.2 and 4.1 AU ha−1 at high, intermediate and low intensities, respectively). Total system yield was not affected by treatments, ranging between 1,518 and 1,287 kg BW ha−1 year−1.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a substituição do farelo de soja por uréia ou amiréia no desempenho de bovinos de corte em crescimento. Foram utilizados oitenta e um machos não castrados das raças Nelore (27), Canchim (27) e Holandesa (27), com peso médio inicial de 250 kg e idade média de 15 meses. O delineamento experimental foi o de blocos ao acaso com três tratamentos, constituídos de três animais por baia e nove baias por tratamento. Os blocos foram arranjados segundo o peso inicial e raça. Os tratamentos foram: 1) farelo de soja (FS); 2) uréia e 3) amiréia (A-150S) em dietas isoprotéicas (13,0%) utilizando o bagaço de cana in natura (BIN) como única fonte de volumoso (20% da MS). O consumo de matéria seca (MS) foi 6,56, 7,18 e 6,97 kg/dia; o ganho de peso vivo foi 0,889, 1,114 e 1,088 kg/dia e a conversão alimentar de 7,3, 6,5 e 6,7 kg MS/kg de ganho nos tratamentos farelo de soja, uréia e amiréia, respectivamente. O tratamento FS apresentou menor consumo e ganho de peso e também pior conversão alimentar (P<0,01). Os tratamentos uréia e A-150S não diferiram (P>0,05) entre si.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of replacing soybean meal by urea or starea on feedlot cattle performance. Eighty-one yearling intact males (27 Nellore, 27 Canchim and 27 Holstein) were used, with initial body weight of 250 kg. Animals were assigned to a completely random block design according to initial weight and breed. There were nine pen/treatment with three animals/pen. Experimental treatments were: 1) soybean meal, 2) urea and 3) starea. Diets contained 13% CP and were composed of 80% concentrate and 20% raw sugarcane bagasse. DMI was 6.56, 7.18 and 6.97 kg/day, average daily gain was 0.889, 1.114 and 1.088 kg/day and feed conversion was 7.3, 6.5 and 6.7 kg DM/kg gain for soybean meal, urea and starea, respectively. Soybean meal reduced (P<0.01) DMI, average daily gain and feed efficiency and there was no difference (P>0.05) between urea and starea treatments.