Nutritional and productive performance of purebred Nellore heifers and crossed with Brangus and Braford finished in a feedlot system

Abstract This study evaluated the nutritional and productive performance of Nellore purebred heifers and crossbred Brangus x Nellore (BGNE) and Braford x Nellore (BFNE) in a feedlot system. Thirty heifers (10 of each genetic group) with an average age of 18 months and an initial body weight of 261 kg were used. The experiment was structured and conducted according to a completely randomized design, with three treatments. Heifers received two diets (60 days each) during the experimental period. The experiment lasted 120 days with four experimental periods. Nellore heifers had a lower intake than crossbred heifers (P