Performance of Gir young bull maintained in “Brachiaria brizantha” pastures submitted to different management

Abstract

This research aimed to evaluate the effect of protein and energy supplementation and different herbage allowances (OF) during the rainy season, on the weight gain of Gir young bulls grazing Brachiaria brizantha maintained in a rotational grazing system. Evaluated forage allowance and chemical composition of Brachiaria brizantha pasture. We used 24 Gir young bulls with an average weight of 223kg, distributed in a randomized block design in a split plot scheme, treatments was distributed in plots, and periods in subplots, with six replications. Treatments were not supplemented (SS) young bull grazing in pasture with 4.0% of forage allowance (SS + 4% FA); supplementation with 0.5% body weight (SO) and 4.0% of FA (SO + 4.0 % FA); supplementation with 0.5% body weight and 3.5% FA (SO + 3.5% FA) and supplementation with 0.5% body weight and 4.5% FA (SO + 4.5% FA). During the rainy season, the young bulls weight gain increased (P <0.05) in response to supplementation (0.848, 0.813 and 0.905kg/ day), respectively in the animals of the S0 + 4% OF; SO + 3.5 and SO OF% OF + 4.5, compared to those not supplemented (0.567kg/day). Animals of the SO+ 4.5% OF showed higher gain compared to the SO + 4.0% OF and SO + 3.5% OF. Pasture management strategies and supplementation did not affect the forage chemical composition (P>0.05).