RESUMO O experimento visou avaliar o desempenho de terneiros desmamados aos 101 dias de idade que no período de aleitamento estavam submetidos a pastagem cultivada de inverno (T¹), ou campo nativo (T²), e terneiros desmamados aos 213 dias (T³) mantidos exclusivamente em campo nativo. Após o desmame, aos 101 dias, os terneiros desmamados foram alimentados no cocho, durante 41 dias. Após este período, foram mantidos em pastagem cultivada de verão até os 213 dias de idade. No período que antecedeu o desmame antecipado, o ganho de peso foi superior (P < 0,01) para os terneiros mantidos em pastagem cultivada. No período seguinte, o ganho de peso foi similar (P > 0,05 )para os terneiros do T¹ e T² e superior (P < 0,05) para os terneiros que continuaram ao pé das vacas em campo nativo (T³). O peso ao final do experimento (01.04.86) foi superior (P < 0,01) para aqueles mantidos no período pré desmame em pastagem cultivada.

SUMMARY The experiment evaluated the weight gain of beef calves weaned 101 days after calving, kept before weaning on cultivated winter pasture or native pasture. After early weaning, the calves were kept on a drylot and fed during 41 days, afterward they were kept on cultivated summer pasture. One control group of calves was kept on native pasture and weaned 213 days after calving. Prior to early weaning, calves kept on cultivated winter pasture had a higher weight gain (P<0.01). After early weaning, the weight gain was similar (P>0.05) for calves previously kept on cultivated winter pasture to those kept on native pasture. Calves from the control group showed a higher weight gain (P<0.05) from 101 to 213 days, than those early weaned. At the end of the experiment, when the calves of the control group were weaned (213 days after calving), the calves early weaned and previously kept on cultivated winter pasture had the highest weight (P < 0.05).