Effects of supplemental feeding of crossbred calves on their weaning weight and on pregnancy rate of their multiparous Nelore dams

Abstract

This experiment used a simple random design with two treatments and 87 replicates, with the objective of evaluating the performance of crossbred calves (½ Nelore x ½ Red Angus) with or without supplemental concentrate feeding from birth to weaning and also the effect on subsequent reproductive efficiency of the dams during a 210-d period. The animals grazed stargrass (Cynodon nlemfuensis) and the concentrate supplement was formulated with 20% CP and 70% TDN. Supplementation increased weaning weight by 9.4% over non-supplementation. No significant difference was observed between the two groups of dams in pregnancy rate, but those whose calves were supplemented showed 10.7% advantage in this criterion. Under the conditions of this experiment supplementation of calves promoted faster weight gain to weaning and tended to benefit the dams also.