Effect of supplementation frequency on intake, behavior and performance in beef steers grazing Marandu grass

Abstract:

Eighteen Nellore steers, with an average initial body weight (BW) of 312 ± 10.6 kg, grazing Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu were assigned to three experimental treatments consisting of different supplementation frequencies (daily [DAI], Monday through Friday [M–F] and Monday, Wednesday and Friday [MWF]). The supplement was offered at a rate of 35.0 g kg−1 BW per week and contained 565 g kg−1 corn gluten meal-60, 235 g kg−1 dry sugarcane yeast, 140 g kg−1 citric pulp and 60 g kg−1 mineral premix. Animal performance (ADG), dry matter (DM) intake, DM digestibility, daily grazing time and pattern of supplement intake were evaluated in the steers from February to May. The forage DM intake was estimated using the alkane pair C32:C33 and the DM apparent digestibility using the alkane C35 as an internal marker. A reduction in supplementation frequency did not affect animal performance, with an …

Año de publicación:

2014

Keywords:

Fuente:

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