Efeito da extrusão de mistura múltipla sobre o desempenho de novilhos de corte em pastejo no período da seca

Abstract

Brazilian livestock farming, which is predominantly extensive, depends on pasture, but nutrient loss during the dry season requires supplementation. Extruded supplements are more efficient in maintaining animal performance. Therefore, the objective was to evaluate the performance of beef steers during the dry season, with the provision of a multiple feed mixture in meal and/or extruded form versus only a mineral mixture. Three treatments were used, with eight animals in each: the first group received only mineral salt as the control group, the second received a multiple feed mixture in meal form, and the last received the same mixture, but in extruded form. The productive performance of the animals was evaluated in a completely randomized design with a 5% significance level. Total weight gain and average daily gain varied significantly among treatments, with the group of animals fed mineral salt losing weight, while the animals fed the multiple feed mixture in meal or extruded form showed positive, though modest, gains. There was no statistical difference between the use of the multiple feed mixture in meal or extruded form. It is concluded that cattle fed only mineral salt during the dry season lose weight. The use of a multiple feed mixture results in better performance, but extrusion processing does not improve results compared to milling.