Economic return of primiparous cows supplemented on natural pasture dominated by Eragrostis plana Nees

Abstract

The experiment evaluated the economic return of the protein and mineral supplementation of primiparous cows pre and postpartum on natural pasture dominated by South African lovegrass (Eragrostis plana Ness). Production costs, animal production and gross margin were evaluated. Cows were supplemented with: common salt, mineral sal, protein salt and reproduction salt. The nutritional of the rangeland was evaluated by crude protein (CP) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) percentages. The lowest body weights were observed on cows grazing on natural pastures and supplemented with common salt and mineral sal at parturition (321 and 329 kg), followed by those supplemented with protein salt and reproduction salt (358 and 360 kg). The body weight and pregnancy rates at the end of mating were from 288 to 339 kg and from 50 to 62.5% between supplements. The total cost and the net earnings were 11.79/175.6; 20.72/188.0; 39.98/170.0 e 28.13/186.3 R$ ha-1 for supplements common salt, mineral salt, protein salt and reproduction salt, respectively. The higher gross margin was obtained with supplementation reproduction salt 214.47 R$ ha-1. The use of reproduction salt supplement for primiparous cows pre and postpartum on natural pasture dominated by South African lovegrass resulted in greater economic return.