The objective ofthis work was to evaluate the effects of three levels of concentrate (2.0, 4.0and 6.0 kg/cow/day) and two levels of crude protein (CP) (14 and 16% total dietarydry matter), in comparison to mineral mixture (control) on the intake, apparentdigestibility, milk composition and yield and on feed efficiency and use ofconcentrates of cows grazing elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum, Schum)in the rainy season. Twenty-one milking Gyr cows with average body weight of426 kg and yield of 13.0 kg of milk/cow/day at 55 days of lactation were distributedin randomized blocks design, with seven diets (treatments) in a 3 × 2 +1 factorial arrangement and three replications, in a period of 84 days. Foragedry matter intake was not influenced by the diets, but total dietary dry matterintake increased by 45% with the inclusion of concentrate in the diet. However,milk yield increased by only 17% (1.76 kg more milk per day) with the use ofconcentrate. For dairy Gyr cows grazing elephant-grass during the rainy season,2 kg of concentrate/cow/day and 14% of CP in the total diet provided the bestproductive response without harming body weight.
