Effect of Creep Feeding Supplementation on Growth Performance and Metabolic Characteristics of Nellore Heifers

oleh: Robert T. da Paixão, Edenio Detmann, Marcos I. Marcondes, Jarbas M. da Silva Júnior, Claudia B. Sampaio

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2023-12-01

Deskripsi

The objective of this paper is to evaluate the effects of creep feeding supplementation during the preweaning phase on the growth performance and metabolic characteristics of Nellore heifers. Forty-two female Nellore calves (age = 100 ± 25 d; initial body weight (BW) = 113.4 ± 16.6 kg) were randomly assigned to the following treatments: control, where calves received mineral mix supplementation (<i>n</i> = 21); supplemented in creep feeding, where calves received 6 g/kg BW of a concentrate supplement (<i>n</i> = 21) during a period of 140 d. In the postweaning phase, all heifers received 6 g/kg BW of a concentrate supplement during a period of 210 d. Supplemented heifers had a greater average daily gain (ADG) than control heifers during the preweaning phase and, consequently, were heavier at weaning and at the end of the growing phase (<i>p</i> < 0.05). However, preweaning supplementation did not influence (<i>p</i> > 0.05) the body measurements or BW at the end of the growing period. Greater (<i>p</i> < 0.05) rib fat was observed in supplemented heifers. Concentrations of metabolites were not affected by preweaning supplementation (<i>p</i> > 0.05). Thus, supplementing heifers in the preweaning phase improved growth performance of weaning and body adiposity.