Protein and energy supplementation for growing steers, in dry season

Abstract

Dry matter intake, ruminal pH and ammonia concentration of grazing growing steers during the dry period, receiving different supplementation levels, were evaluated. Five rumen fistulated steers, with 18 months of age, 322kg average body weight were used in a 5x5 Latin Square design. The treatments used were based on the daily supplement supply of 0 (control - without supplementation); 0.125; 0.25; 0.5 and 1.0% of body weight. The dry matter intake was determined by the relationship between the fecal dry matter excreted estimated with external (Cr2O3) and internal (iADF) markers. The rumen fluid was sampled at 0, 3, 6 and 9 hours after feeding the supplement for pH and ammonia determination. The forage intake by the control group was of 4.81kg DM/day; equivalent at 0.244% of available forage. The reduction of forage intake was more evident for the supplementation level of 1.0% of BW (1.44 kg/day), without affecting the average daily gain of the animals. Ruminal pH was higher for control treatment, averaging 7.3. The smallest value observed was 6.38 for 1.0% of BW supplementation level. The ammonia nitrogen presented higher averages at 3 hours after supplementation for level 0.5% of BW (21.53 mg/dL). Protein supply and protein-energy supplementation does not reduce the total dry matter intake of animals, but dry matter intake of herbage.