Efeito econômico da recria de novilhas suplementadas no período de transição seca-águas

Abstract

The use of supplementation of grazing cattle is one of the main tools for the intensification of cattle production systems. The present work aimed to evaluate the economic effects of supplementary strategies for heifers reared in the dry-water transition period. Twenty-four Nellore heifers were used, with an initial mean body weight of 272.4 ± 21.18 kg, fixed and distributed in paddocks of different sizes and 7 regulators that were used to adjust the stocking rate. A randomized block design (three supplements and three replications) was used to evaluate the following supplements: commercial concentrate (CC) and protein salt (SP), provided at 0.5% and 0.1% of body weight (PC), respectively, in addition to the exclusive supplement with mineral salt (SM) ad libitum. The daily weight gain (GPD) was higher (P<0.05) for animals receiving the supplements CC (1.01 kg animal day-1) and SP (0.87 kg animal day-1) compared to the supplement SM (0.70 kg animal day-1). The results for average daily gain additional to the SM supplement were 0.302 and 0.165 kg day-1 for the animals receiving the CC and SP supplements, respectively. In the economic analysis, an increase in profitability was observed for the CC (19.05%) and SP (14.71%) supplements. The use of protein-energy supplements promoted greater productive performance of grazing heifers supplemented in the dry-water transition period, emphasizing the commercial concentrate supplement, which resulted in greater economic viability.