Título:	Profitability of increasing supplementation levels for beef cattle grazing tropical pastures.
Autoria:	GALVANI, D. B. PEREIRA, M. de A. MONTAGNER, D. B.
Afiliação:	DIEGO BARCELOS GALVANI, CNPGC; MARIANA DE ARAGAO PEREIRA, CNPGC; DENISE BAPTAGLIN MONTAGNER, CNPGC.
Ano de publicação:	2026
Referência:	In: INTERNATIONAL FARM MANAGEMENT CONGRESS, 25., Rosario, 2026. Peer reviewed papers. Bristol: International Farm Management Association, 2026.
Páginas:	p. 414-423
Conteúdo:	ABSTRACT - This study assessed the economic feasibility of supplementation levels for beef cattle grazing tropical pastures during the dry season. The central question was whether higher supplementation rates could improve system profitability and what level would provide the most advantageous balance between biological efficiency and economic return. Two experiments were conducted with 36 Angus x Nellore bulls each, receiving 0.2, 0.4, or 0.8% of body weight (BW) of a protein-energy supplement while grazing Brachiaria brizantha (I) or Brachiaria decumbens (2). Performance variables were measured over 110-150 days, and economic responses were calculated from feed costs and carcass revenues. A deterministic simulation was also run to determine how supplementation would affect feedlot finishing at 580 kg slaughter BW. Profitability was further scaled to a 300-hs pastore base to integrate both per-animal and per-area perspectives. Supplementation linearly enhanced average daily gain (ADG) and stocking rate, but marginal advantages were greater between 0.2 and 0.4% BW than 0.4 and 0.8% BW. In Experiment 1, ADG increased from 0.33 to 0.67 kg/day and final BW from 302 to 351 kg; in Experiment 2, ADG improved from 0.41 to 0.74 kg/day and final BW from 365 to 415 kg. Revenues increased with supplementation, but net margin peaked at 0.4% BW (US$ 101 in Exp. I; US$ 83 in Exp. 2) and declined at 0,8% BW due to higher costs and reduced efficiency. The simulation confirmed that greater supplementation could shorten finishing time and reduce projected feedlot costs; however, system profit margin was maximized at 0.4% BW (US$ 183 in Exp. I; US$ 127 in Exp. 2). At the 300-ha scale, output increased with higher supplementation, but total profit was optimized at 0.4% BW (US$ 253,000 in Exp. I; US$ 129,000 in Exp. 2). In conclusion, dry season beef cattle supplementation at 0.4% BW on tropical pastures yielded the best performance, cost management, and profitability in simulated pasture and feedlot finishing.
Thesagro:	Brachiaria Brizantha Brachiaria Decumbens Gado de Corte Gado Nelore Seca
NAL Thesaurus:	Angus Average daily gain Beef cattle Dry season Grazing Tropical pastures
Notas:	IFMA25
Tipo do material:	Artigo em anais e proceedings
Acesso:	openAccess
Aparece nas coleções:	Artigo em anais de congresso (CNPGC)