title: The effects of energy and protein supplementation strategy and frequency on the performance of beef cattle that grazed on Tanzania grass pastures during the rainy season.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the different supplementation strategies for finishing Nellore beef cattle on pastures of Tanzania guinea grass (Panicum maximum Jacq. 'Tanzania'). The experiment was performed in a 12 ha area divided into 12 paddocks of 1 ha each. Forty-eight, 2-year-old, non-castrated Nellore cattle with an initial body weight (BW) of 384 kg (SEM = 21) were used in this study. The following supplementation strategies were evaluated: (1) mineral supplement supplied once per week (MS), (2) energy and protein supplement with intake regulator (2 g/kg BW) supplied once per week (EPS1), (3) energy and protein supplement (7 g/kg BW) supplied daily (EPS2), and (4) energy and protein supplement (7 g/kg BW) supplied three times per week (EPS3). The average daily gain (ADG) of animals receiving EPS3 was 0.177 kg/day higher than those receiving EPS1 (p < 0.01), 0.233 kg/day higher than the MS group, and not significantly different from EPS2. Animals in MS and EPS1 groups exhibited the lowest ADG. The ADG was not significantly different between EPS1 and EPS2 animals, but was 0.203 kg/day higher for EPS2 animals than for MS. Animals receiving only mineral supplementation spent more time grazing than the other supplementation groups tested (p < 0.01). We therefore conclude that Tanzania guinea grass is nutritionally limited and can be amended using supplements, thereby increasing animal performance. Animal performance was higher with increased protein and energy supplementation (7 g/kg BW), independent of the frequency with which supplements were administered.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual de Londrina (UEL), Rodovia Celso Garcia Cid, Pr 445 Km 380, CEP: 86.057-970, Londrina, PR, Brazil. rlmiorin@zootecnista.com.br.|Agencia Paulista de Tecnologia dos agronegócios, Avenida Rui Barbosa s/n, CX 35, CEP:14770-000, Colina, SP, Brazil. rlmiorin@zootecnista.com.br.
authors.forename: R L
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1666-2941
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Miorin
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual de Londrina (UEL), Rodovia Celso Garcia Cid, Pr 445 Km 380, CEP: 86.057-970, Londrina, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Saad
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual de Londrina (UEL), Rodovia Celso Garcia Cid, Pr 445 Km 380, CEP: 86.057-970, Londrina, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: L D F
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual de Londrina (UEL), Rodovia Celso Garcia Cid, Pr 445 Km 380, CEP: 86.057-970, Londrina, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Galbeiro
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual de Maringá (UEM), Avenida Colombo, n 5790, CEP: 87.020-900, Maringá, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Cecato
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual de Londrina (UEL), Rodovia Celso Garcia Cid, Pr 445 Km 380, CEP: 86.057-970, Londrina, PR, Brazil.
authors.forename: F L Massaro
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Junior
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002417:Cattle / Q000254:growth & development*; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary*; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D008297:Male; D006109:Poaceae; D011891:Rain; D000069466:Red Meat; D012621:Seasons; D013636:Tanzania; D014329:Tropical Climate; D015430:Weight Gain
chemical_list: D004044:Dietary Proteins
keywords: Finishing pasture; Ingestive behavior; Rainy season; Supplementation; Supplementation frequency