A meta-analysis of the effects of dietary supplementation in tropical forage-fed cattle

The objective of this study was to, through a meta-analysis of published data, evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation on the performance of beef cattle grazed on Brachiaria pastures during the rearing and finishing phases of growth. Data from 15 Brazilian studies were analyzed, totaling 462 animals given different types and levels of supplementation. Animals were divided into two categories: 319 in the rearing phase, and 143 in the finishing phase. The reviewed studies evaluated the effects of protein, energy, and protein/energy supplementation on animal performance parameters. Daily weight gain and final live weight were analyzed using forest plots. Daily weight gain during the rearing phase was similar across all supplement types used. Animals given supplementation gained an average of 119 g more per day compared to those who received no supplementation. Specifically, protein supplementation resulted in an increase of 28.22 kg. Animals given supplementation of any kind, represented by the subgroups shown in the plots, gained an average of 24.47 kg more compared to the control group.