Effect of creep-feeding supplementation on growth, and metabolic and reproductive characteristics of Nellore heifers

• Ano de defesa: 2021
• Autor(a) principal: Paixão, Robert Teixeira da
• Tipo de documento: Dissertação
• Tipo de acesso: Acesso aberto
• Idioma: eng
• Instituição de defesa: Universidade Federal de Viçosa; Zootecnia
• Palavras-chave em Português: Bovinos de corte; Bos indicus; Novilhos - Crescimento; Puberdade; Produção Animal
• Link de acesso: https://locus.ufv.br//handle/123456789/29421

Objectives were to evaluate the effects of supplementation at pre-weaning phase on growth performance, metabolic, and reproductive characteristics of Nellore heifers. Forty-two Nellore female calves (average age = 100 ± 25 d; average initial body weight [BW] = 113.4 ± 16.6 kg) were randomly assigned to one of two treatments (n = 21) at the pre-weaning phase: control = heifers received mineral mix supplementation; and supplemented = heifers received 6 g/kg BW of a concentrate supplement. During the post-weaning phase, all heifers received 6 g/kg BW of a concentrate supplement. The experiment lasted 320 d. Supplemented heifers had greater average daily gain (ADG) than control heifers at pre-weaning phase and, consequently, were heavier at weaning and final of growing phase (P < 0.05). However, pre-weaning supplementation did not influence (P > 0.05) the body measurements or body weight at the end of growing period. Greater (P < 0.05) rib fat was observed in supplemented heifers. Concentrations of metabolites and the and conception rates were not affected (P > 0.05) by pre- weaning supplementation. Thus, supplementing heifers at the pre-weaning phase improved growth performance at weaning and body adiposity however, without additional performance or metabolic characteristics. Keywords: Beef cattle. Bos indicus. Growth. Heifer. Puberty.