Use of NaCl in Supplement as an Alternative to Viabilize the Calf Creep-Feeding System

[摘要] - Thirty two Canchim suckling calves, maintained on rotational grazing system ofBrachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu, were divided in three groups corresponding to three evaluated treatments: control (without creep-feeding); SAL5 (addition of 5% of NaCl to concentrate fed in creep-feeding); and SAL10 (addition of 10% of NaCl to concentrate fed in creep-feeding). Feeding in a creep-feeding system lasted 90 days, divided in three subperiods of 30 days. The body weight gain was greater in the subperiods 1 and 2 for SAL10 and SAL5 treatments, respectively. There were no differences in the third subperiod and, in the overall period, the SAL10 treatment (0.91 kg.animal-1.day-1) was better than control treatment (0.81 kg.animal-1.day-1). The monthly remuneration provided by the treatments SAL5 e SAL10 related to the control group were -12.5 and 6.0%, respectively. The body weight differentials at weaning, compared to the control group, for creep-feeding provide a monthly net profit of 0, 0.6, 1.2, and 6.0% should be 10.8, 11.0, 11.2, and 12.8 kg.animal-1 for SAL5 and 7.6, 7.7, 7.8, and 9.0 kg.animal-1 for SAL10. It was concluded that the limited supplement intake in creep-feeding was necessary to obtain economic viability.

[学科分类] 兽医学

[关键词] calves;creep-feeding;performance     IntroduçãoA fase do ciclo produtivo que engloba a criação do bezerro propriamente dita;que freqüentemente dura cerca de 200 dias;é sempre motivo de especial atenção por parte do produtor de gado de corte;pois é nessa fase do sistema de produção que muitos fatores importantes começam a interferir no bom desenvolvimento do bezerro