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Supplementation for beef cattle on Marandu grass pastures with different herbage allowances.
- Source :
-
Animal Production Science . 2016, Vol. 56 Issue 1, p123-129. 7p. - Publication Year :
- 2016
-
Abstract
- The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of beef heifers on Stapf. cv. Marandu grass pastures that were managed at three herbage allowances under continuous grazing with a variable stocking rate and were provided with mineral mix supplement or supplements with energy and protein. Seventy-two test heifers and 48 put-and-take heifers were used in a randomised design in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement [three herbage allowances (1.5, 2.0, and 2.5 kg of green dry matter/kg of bodyweight, and two supplementation levels (mineral mix or 0.3% bodyweight of a mineral-protein-energy supplement)], with two replicates per treatment (paddocks), to maintain the preestablished forage allowance. No significant difference was observed in the gain per hectare as a function of the herbage allowance, but 2.5 kg green dry matter/kg bodyweight provided the greatest average daily gain of bodyweight (0.605 kg/ animal/day). The energy/protein supplementation provided the greatest average daily gain compared with animals fed only the mineral mix. The supplements in the diet of beef heifers fed at 0.3% of bodyweight increased bodyweight gains without compromising the gain per hectare at different herbage allowances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- *BEEF cattle
*HEIFERS
*GRAZING
*HEALTH
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 18360939
- Volume :
- 56
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Animal Production Science
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 111552773
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1071/AN14636