Protein and energy supplementation to beef cattle

Abstract

The pastures are considered the most economic feeding source to the cattle in Brazil, and considering beef cattle, is estimated that the majority of slaughtered animals in Brazil have been raised from production systems based on pasture. In the last decade, a new supplementation mode has been used by ranchers and it is based on the supply of mixture containing, in addition to limitants mineral nutrients, proteins or non-protein nitrogen sources, mainly in the drought period, when the protein forage concentration in the pasture is bellow the minimum level required for the proper ruminal function. The protein-energetic supplements increase the consumption and digestibility of low quality forages, providing the gain of weight. However, the productivity should not compromise the quality of the production system. In conclusion, this review was developed to investigate the advantages and disadvantages of using protein and energy supplements at grazing cattle feeding.