Consumo, tempo de pastejo e desempenho de novilhos suplementados em pastos de Brachiaria decumbens, durante o período seco Intake, grazing time and performance of steers supplemented in Brachiaria decumbens pastures during the dry season

The objective of this study was to evaluate the supplementation with mineral salt (SALT), proteic and mineral salt (PMS) and energetic-proteic supplement (EPS), respectively, provided ad libitum, 0.2% and 0.8% of body weight (BW) on dry matter forage intake (DMFI), grazing time and performance of cattle during the dry season (June to August). The performance was evaluated in 48 steers with an average initial BW of 310 + 50 kg, distributed in 15 paddocks of Brachiaria decumbens, with the DMFI and grazing time evaluated in 18 steers. Compared with animals consuming SALT, the DMFI was reduced in 26% for those supplemented with EPS, without differences with the animals supplemented with PMS. Grazing time was reduced in 16 and 90 minutes day -1 , respectively, for animals supplemented with PMS and EPS, compared to animals without supplementation. There was an interaction (P<0.01) treatment