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 x period for average daily gain (ADG) not being different in the initial month (0.76 kg animal(-1) day(-1)), however, in the second month the animals receiving SALT gained 0.07 kg animal(-1) day(-1), significantly (P< 0.01) less than the animals of PMS and EPS, in which the ADG was 0.56 and 0.73 kg animal(-1) day(-1), respectively. The use of pasture supplementation with PMS and EPS is interesting to aim higher weight gains of cattle during the dry season, but supplementation with PMS did not alter the DMFI, being one efficient way to supply the nutrients to the animals during this period.