Effect of protein content of the concentrate on the intake of sugar cane with urea and weight gain by growing heifers

The effect of different protein supplements on intake of sugar cane with urea by crossbred Holstein-Zebu heifers was evaluated during 12 weeks in the dry season. Eighteen heifers, averaging initial weight of 288 kg and age ranging from 15 to 22 months, were supplemented with soybean meal or concentrate with 28.7% crude protein. The amount of supplement fed was 1.0 kg/ animal day. Sugar cane with urea was fed ad libitum. The average intake of dry matter and neutral detergent fiber of sugar cane with urea in percent of live weight were 2.33 and 2.43; 1.19 and 1.23 for the animals supplemented with soybean meal or concentrate with 28.7% crude protein, respectively. The protein supplements did not affect intake of dry matter and neutral detergent fiber of sugar cane with urea. The supplements did not affect heifers weight gain. The average daily weight gains were .39 +/- .04 and .36 +/- .04 kg/animal . day for animals supplemented with soybean meal or with concentrate containing 28.7% crude protein, respectively.