Reproductive activity and performance of ½ Nellore and heifers fed with supplementation with organic chromium

Abstract

This experimental evaluated the start of reproductive activity, body weight gain and carcass finishing of two genetic groups of heifers submitted to mineral supplementation with organic chromium. 90 heifers with 12 months of age were divided into four groups: 30 Nellore with chromium, 30 Nellore without chromium, 15 ½ Taurine with chromium, 15 ½ Taurine without chromium. For 12 months the animals were weighed every 28 days and ultrasound exams performed with 15 months of age for reproductive evaluation and 18 months for carcass evaluation. There was interaction between genetic groups and organic chromium supplementation for body weight at slaughter and body weight gain. The ½ Taurine heifers supplemented with chromium showed greater body weight at slaughter (330.1kg) and body weight gain (0,563kg/day) than Nellore heifers with chromium (304.8kg; 0,414kg/day), Nellore without chromium (304.7kg; 0,401kg/day) and ½ Taurine without chromium (298.6kg; 0,408kg/day). However there was no effect of interaction between genetic groups and chromium organic supplementation, of genetic groups and of chromium organic supplementation on carcass characteristic. The use of organic chromium supplementation showed improvements on body growth and on the start of reproductive activity in heifers, without changing the finishing carcass characteristic.