Biological and economic efficiencies of steers in finishing period fed with supplementary diet in a palisade grass pasture

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate the biological and economic efficiencies of steers, in finishing period in a palisade grass pasture, with supplementation during the dry season. Thirty steers ½ Braford ¼ Angus ¼ Nelore separated in two groups with initial live weights (LW) of 365 kg and 410 kg were assigned to six paddocks of palisade grass. The experimental design was completely randomized, with three treatments and ten replicates. The treatments consisted of the following supplements: mineral salt plus starea; 0,6 and 1% LW of concentrate. Animals were weighted each 28 days, and their fat thickness was determined. Forage was sampled monthly to determine its mass, morphological components and nutritive value. Animals supplemented with 1% of the LW gained more weight than those supplemented with 0,6% of the LW, and these last gained more weight than those supplemented with mineral salt plus starea. Consequently, there was an inverse relationship between supplementation and time for reaching the predefined end-point. Independently of treatment, the lighter steers showed higher net margins. For the two groups of animals, the largest net margin was associated with the mineral salt plus starea supplementation only.