 | Abstract 502Supplementation of grazing zebu heifers with roughage and concentrate during the dry season.Benintendi,-RP; Andrade,-P-de Boletim-de-Industria-Animal. 1982, 39: 1, 11-28; 35 ref. During 84 days 35 yearling Nellore heifers grazing on Guinea grass (Panicum maximum) had pasture alone (control) or with soyabean oilmeal to cover protein maintenance requirements or with soya supplemented daily by ground jaragua hay (Hyparrhenia rufa), maize silage or crushed whole maize ears, each covering 40% of maintenance requirement of DM. Water, salt and minerals were available. During 56 days of intense drought all supplements prevented the major weight loss recorded in control heifers. During the entire period of 84 days, weight gains were significantly higher with hay and maize ears in particular and with maize silage than with pasture alone or with soya. For 196 days thereafter, all heifers remained on the same pasture, without supplement, at 2/ha, as previously. Weight gains for the complete 280-day trial, in relation to starting weight, were about the same in all groups. This abstract relates to the following species:
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