Development of growing steers on Brachiaria decumbens supplemented with different energy sources during the dry season and transition from dry to wet season

The aim of this work was evaluate the effect of supplementation with different energetic sources, on growing steers performance and economical viability, and also evaluate the structure and chemical composition of Signalgrass (Brachiaria decumbens) from July to November, on Sao Paulo state west region. Forty-two animals (Nelore) and three pastures of 7.2 ha each, were used. The energy sources used for supplements were: corn and cob with husks (CCH), cassava meal (CM) and soybean hulls (SH); each treatment had cottonseed meal to reach 25% of CP, and was given at 1.30% of BW. The animal weight was verified at each 14 days and forage characteristics were evaluated at each 28 days. The average availability of forage was 2570 kg DM/ha and 1306 kg leaves/ha. Leaves proportion showed a quadratic behavior in function of experimental period, with minimum value of 46.58 % observed in August. The average levels of CP were 4.45% for all plant, 5.30% for leaf e 2.83% for steam. The average levels of NDF and ADF were, respectively 70.61% and 39.93% for all plant, 65.76% and 34.91% for leaf. and 75.83% and 47.90% for steam. The supplements were not different on average daily gain, with average of 0.836 kg/animal/day. The supplement more economically viable was the cassava meal, which showed lesser coasts and bigger animal gain with better relation income:costs.