Breed and trace mineral source influence the performance of beef heifers during periods of nutrient restriction and grazing forage at early vegetative stage.

ABSTRACT: We evaluated the effects of breed and mineral sources on heifer performance during periods of nutrient restriction and grazing. On day -7, ½ Angus × ½ Nelore (ANE) and Nelore (NE) heifers (12 heifers per breed; body weight, BW = 264 ± 35 kg; age = 15 ± 1 mo) were assigned to individual drylot pens to receive ad libitum Tifton 85 (Cynodon sp.) hay and white salt for 7 d. On day 0, within each breed, heifers were randomly assigned (2 × 2 factorial arrangement) to receive protein supplementation (0.20% of BW; dry matter, DM) added with sulfate (SUL) or hydroxychloride (HYD) sources of Cu, Mn, and Zn from days 0 to 49. From days 0 to 34, hay DM intake was restricted to 50% of the ad libitum intake recorded from days -7 to -1. On day 35, heifers were transferred to individual pastures to graze

SUBMITTER: Souza IRT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11879178 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature