Concentrate supplementation during the finishing phase in tropical pastures improves the average daily gain and carcass characteristics of the animals.The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of increasing levels of concentrate supplementation on nutrient intake and digestibility, ruminal fermentation parameters, and the performance of heifers finished on Megathyrsus maximus (Jacq.)B.K. Simon & S.W.L. Jacobs 'Mombaa' pasture.Forty heifers ( Nellore Angus), with an average body weight of 312.65 17.95 kg and 16 mo age, were distributed in a completely randomized design.To analyze ruminal parameters, four rumen-fistulated heifers were used in a 44 Latin square design.Supplementation was provided at four levels: 0.2%, 0.3%, 0.4%, and 0.5% of body weight (BW) over 134 d.A linear increase (P 0.05) by supplementation level, but gross feed efficiency declined (P < 0.05) as supplementation increased.Increasing concentrate supplementation from 0.2% to 0.5% BW in Nellore Angus heifers finished on M. maximus 'Mombaa' pasture did not affect average daily gain but reduced feed efficiency.Therefore, lower supplementation levels (0.2% BW) are recommended.
Paixão et al. (Thu,) studied this question.