SUPLEMENTA O DE NOVILHOS RED ANGUS X NELORE CRIADOS EM PASTAGEM TROPICAL DURANTE A éPOCA CHUVOSA

This experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of proteic-energetic supplementation for Red Angus x Nellore steers raised on Brachiaria purpurascens (Henr. Blumea) tropical pastures during the wet season. Thirty-two steers were used to form four groups containing eight animals each. The experimental treatments were: (1) control (commercial mineral mix); (2) concentrate (concentrate ration, formulated to ensure a gain of 1.10 kg/day), and (3) proteic-energetic supplement containing whether corn (SCC) or (4) wheat midllings (SCWM). Daily weight gain, supplement intake, income over feed costs and the frequency of water trough access were assessed. The supplement intake was 0.076, 2.77, 0.74 and 0.86 kg/steer/day for the control, concentrate, SCC and SCWM groups, respectively. There were no differences in the daily weight gain amongst the control, SCC and SCWM groups and the concentrate group had the highest daily weight gain. The animals that received SCC had the highest income over feed costs and the concentrate group had the lowest one. Proteic-energetic supplementation during the wet season can, numerically, improve the daily weight gain, but this nutritional strategy must be done with caution to avoid economic losses.