SUPPLEMENTATION FOR DAIRY CATTLE IN XARAÉS GRASS PASTURE IN DROUGHT AND DRY-WATER TRANSITION SEASONS

Abstract

Aimed to evaluate the effect of five levels of supplement-based brewery residue on performance and cost of milk production during drought and drought-water transition periods of Cuiabana Lowlands - MT. Five Holstein-Zebu lactating cows, with about six years old and average weight of 500 kg, were randomly distributed in Latin square 5x5 design, with five periods of 14 days and five supplementation levels: 3,1; 3,7; 4,3; 4,9 and 5,5 kg of supplement per animal day. A careful evaluation of pasture quality proved the necessity of using a supplement to avoid losses of production during that period. For the supplementation levels proposed in this work, the brewery residue can be used as an ingredient in supplements without disturbing significant effects on milk production, however, all levels of supplementation used generated positive gross margin, so that the level of supply of 3,1 kg animal day provided better gross margin between the amounts tested.