Economic evaluation of different supplementation of Nellore steers on pasture during the rainy season

Abstract

This work was undertaken to study the effects on animal performance and cost of supplementing Nellore steers grazing Brachiaria brizantha pastures in the rainy season over approximately 6 Mo of experimentation. Forty steers were used in four groups of 10 each; two of which received mineral supplementation (C) and two energy supplementation (ES). The latter resulted in more rapid live weight gain (P < 0.05), but the profit margin was 5.59% higher for animals under C.