Supplementing double purposed lactating calves with commercial feed

Objective. To evaluate the effect over the daily weight gain (DWG) and feed consumption (FC) caused by supplementing with commercial feed, on lactating calves and its economic impact in a cattle ranching company managed under a double purpose cattle system. Materials and methods. Fourteen calves were supplemented (6 males and 8 females) between 3 and 5 months old, with commercial balanced feed at 1.5% of live weight (Treatment 1) and they were compared to an equal in sex group which was not supplemented (control Treatment), for 113 days, during rainy season. The data for DWG and FC were statistically analyzed through a t Student test. The cost-benefit relationship and profitability were determined. Results. The DWG of the lactating calves was significantly affected by the supplementation with commercial feed (p<0.05) being the supplemented calves 99.77% (870.97 g) higher to those non-supplemented (435.96 g.) due to the nutrient contribution and high digestibility of the supplement. The gender of the calves did not affect the daily weight gain (p>0.05), or the consumption of the commercial feed (p>0.05), within each treatment, thus explaining the statistical non-difference in DWG among genders. The economical analysis confirmed that the feeding strategy is viable when there is a relation B: C of 1.1 and a trimester profitability of 9.27%. Conclusions. Supplementing lactating cattle calves is a reasonable practice that allows gaining additional profit.