Increasing levels of crude protein in multiple supplements for grazing beef heifers in rainy season

Abstract

The objective was to evaluate the effect of multiple supplements with differents levels of crude protein (CP) or mineral supplements on the nutritional parameters and performance of beef heifers grazing Uruchloa decumbens in the rainy season. A complete random design was employed. The treatments were made up of increasing levels of CP in the multiple supplements and a control treatment (MM) in which animals were offered only mineral mixture. Multiple supplements contained 17; 30; 43 and 56% of CP, for treatments CP17; CP30; CP43 and CP56, respectively. Average daily gain (ADG) (g) was 447.7; 554.6; 638.4; 587.9; 590.4, for treatments MM, CP17; CP30; CP43 and CP56, respectively. A quadratic effect of the levels of crude protein was found (p< 0.10) on ADG. A greater intake of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), CP, ether extract (EE), non-fibrous carbohydrates (NFC), total digestible nutrients (TDN), and digested dry matter (p< 0.10) was found in animals supplemented with multiple supplements. Multiple supplements increased the apparent digestibility coefficient of DM, CP, EE and NFC. Supply of multiple multiple supplements for heifers grazing in medium to high quality pastures in the rainy season improves the performance of the animals.