Desempenho de bezerros de corte de diferentes grupos genéticos após suplementação

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the performance of beef calves from different genetic groups after dietary supplementation. The experiment was conducted at São José Farm, located in southwestern Paraná, Brazil, with a total of 176 calves. The animals were divided into three main genetic groups, resulting from crosses between Bos indicus (zebu) and Bos taurus (European breeds), and were supplemented with a concentrate using the creep-feeding system. The supplementation consisted of a mixture of ground corn grain, soybean meal, and mineral premix, with 22% crude protein, provided daily to the calves. The main objective was to assess the impact of supplementation on the weight gain of calves up to weaning, analyzing the interaction between nutrition and genetics. The results showed that supplemented calves had higher daily weight gains compared to non-supplemented ones, with particular emphasis on crossbred calves between Bos taurus and Bos indicus, which showed better performance. The creep-feeding supplementation accelerated the development of the animals and facilitated the transition to a post-weaning diet. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in average daily gain (ADG) between genetic groups and between males and females, with males generally exhibiting higher weight gains. The genetic group with a higher proportion of Bos taurus showed the best weight gain results. The study concludes that the combination of strategic dietary supplementation and genetic crossbreeding can optimize the performance of beef calves, highlighting its importance as an essential tool for efficient management in cattle farming.