Steers performance grazing ryegrass (Lolium Multiflorum) with or without energetic supplementation

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate the performance of steers grazing ryegrass pasture (Lolium multiflorum), with or without energetic supplementation (cracked corn) and to evaluate the economic return of this supplementation. Twenty two Simental steers with initial body weight (IBW) of 394.8 kg were used. Two ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) padocks were used, with a stocking rate of 1.36 AU/ha. The energetic supplement was 100% of cracked corn. The average daily gain (ADG) for supplemented steers was higher (1.68 kg/day) than ADG of no supplemented steers (1.36 kg/day). One kg of carcass was obtained for each 5,55kg of supplement. The energetic supplementation was viable when the price of each 15 kg of carcass was R$ 53.00 and when the price of the energetic supplement (corn) was R$ 250.00/ton.