29º Congresso Brasileiro de Zootecnia

Supplements containing soybean meal (source of true protein) or extruded
urea (NNP) on the consumption, performance and cost of Nellore steers in the
rearing phase was evaluated. 36 Nellore steers with initial weight of 230 kg were
divided into four paddocks of Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu. Supplements
presented 41% CP. Significant effects on final weight (280.48 vs. 301.21 kg), total
weight gain (50.48 vs. 71.22 kg), daily gain (0.57 vs. 0.80 kg/d) and total supplement
consumption (735.25 vs. 1078.91 kg) and daily supplement consumption (0.83 vs.
1.21 kg/day for treatments containing extruded urea and meal of soybean,
respectively). Revenues were R$ 244.28/steer for NNP treatment and R$ 344.65 for
true protein treatment. The gross margin (R$/animal) was 167.08 vs. 225.97 for
treatments containing NNP and true protein respectively. Total replacement of the
true protein by extruded urea in supplements for beef cattle in the growing phase in wet season is not recommended.