Performance and economic viability of protein supplementation for grazing cattle steers in the wet and dry-wet transition season

Abstract

The objective was to evaluate performance and economic viability of protein supplementation of grazing beef cattle in the wet and dry-wet transition season. Eighty non-castrated Nellore steers, body weight of 371 ± 11.3 kg were used in the experiment. The treatments were the following: SM -Mineral supplement; Protein mineral supplements (SMP 20% FS -soybean meal: 410 g/animal; SMP 40% UR -urea: 223 g/animal; and SMP 40% UP -protect urea: 236 g/animal). It was used a complete random design with 20 replicates per treatment. There was a difference in the results (P<0.05) of PMS 40% UP compared with SM, with average daily gain (ADG) of 1.06 kg/animal for SMP 40% UP and 0.95 kg/ animal for SM, respectively. There was difference (P<0.10) in the fat accumulation rate in longissimus dorsi muscle (Tx.EGLD) between treatments. The PMS 40% UP supplement showed an accumulation of fat 0.018 mm/day while the SMP 40% UR had a lower rate of fat 0.011 mm/day. There was no effect (P> 0.10) of treatments on the rate of accumulation of fat in the rump region. All treatments presented a positive net margin. The best net margin was observed for treatment PMS 40% UP, that is, R$123.92 per animal/period, whereas the smallest was observed in treatment PMS 20% FS, that is, R$98.91 per animal/period. Protein supplementation with a source of protected nitrogen can be used as a strategy to increase the performance of beef cattle on pasture of Brachiaria brizantha cv. Xaraés during the wet and dry-wet transition. Key words: Beef cattle, cost of production, weight gain, supplement, ultrasonography ResumoObjetivou avaliar o desempenho e viabilidade econômica da suplementação proteica de bovinos de corte em pasto no período das águas e transição águas-seca. Foram utilizados 80 novilhos Nelore, não castrados, peso corporal médio de 371 ± 11,3 kg. Suplementos mineral proteico (SMP 20% FS -farelo soja: 410 g/animal; SMP 40% UR-ureia: 223 g/animal; e SMP 40% UP-ureia protegida: 236 g/animal. O delineamento utilizado foi inteiramente casualizado com 20 repetições por tratamento. Houve diferença nos resultados (P<0,05) do SMP 40% UP, comparado com o SM, com ganho médio diário (GMD) de 1,06 kg/animal para SMP 40% UP e 0,95 kg/animal para SM. Houve diferença (P<0,10) na taxa de acúmulo de gordura no músculo Longissimus dorsi (Tx.EGLD) entre os tratamentos, sendo que o suplemento SMP 40% UP apresentou um acúmulo de 0,018 mm de gordura/dia, enquanto o SMP 40% UR teve uma taxa inferior de 0,011 mm de gordura/ dia). Não houve efeito (P>0,10) dos tratamentos sobre a taxa de acúmulo de gordura na região da garupa. Todos os tratamentos apresentaram margem líquida positiva. A melhor margem líquida foi observada no tratamento SMP 40% UP, ou seja, R$123,92 por animal/período, enquanto a menor, no tratamento SMP 20% FS, ou seja, R$98,91 por animal/período. A suplementação proteica com uma fonte de nitrogênio protegido pode ser utilizada como uma ferramenta para aumentar o desempenho de bovinos de corte sob pastejo de Brachiaria brizantha cv. Xaraés no per...