ABSTRACT
This study evaluated the effect of energy and protein supplementation on the nutritional characteristics, ingestive behavior, and productive performance in grazing heifers during the rainy season. Forty crossbred heifers (Nelore breed predominance) were used in the study, with an age of 14 months and an initial mean weight of 182 ± 1.13 kg. The treatments consisted of mineral supplementation ad libitum (control) and three supplements formulated to contain an energy: protein ratio (TDN:CP) of 1.13, 2.62, and 4.06; these were denominated as low (LC, 0.5 kg animal d-1), medium (MC, 1.0 kg animal d-1), and high consumption (HC, 1.5 kg animal d-1), respectively, in order to guarantee an intake of 300 g of crude protein (CP) animal-1 d -1, with variation in energy content. There was a difference (P < 0.05) in crude protein intake, with a 44% reduction for the LC treatment in relation to HC. The lowest grazing time (398 min) was observed with the MC treatment. Urinary urea-N (UreaN) was lower for control animals (P < 0.05). Average daily gain (ADG) was lower for the control animals than for the supplemented animals (P < 0.05); there was no difference in ADG between the animals receiving supplementation. High supplementation levels and TDN:CP ratios are not recommended because they do not justify the increased costs of supplementation. Therefore, when forage presents great nutritional characteristics, it is possible to optimize the performance of the animals with low to medium consumption supplementation.
