To estimate dry matter intake and to evaluate variation on live weight of heifers, an experiment was conducted from March to July 2003, with the following supplementation strategies: no supplementation (control), cottonseed cake (1 kg); spineless cactus (10 kg); spineless cactus + 0.5 kg of cottonseed cake (5 kg). Dry matter intake of native pasture was not affected by supplementation, but it affected total dry matter intake. Intake of total dry matter (DM) differed among breeds with values of 5.44 and 6.75 kg/day, respectively for Guzerat and Girolando breeds. For animal fed cottonseed cake supplementation, total DM intake was higher than in the control group (no supplementation), however, it was similar for those under spineless cactus and cottonseed cake + spinelles cactus supplementation. Daily average body weight gain (517 and 434 g/animal, respectively, for Girolando and Guzerat groups) did not differ among breeds neither was affected by breed õ supplementation interaction. However, among strategies of suplementation, values were significantly different and they were 412, 620, 371 and 498 g/animal/day, respectively, for control and cottonseed cake suplementation group; spineless cactus; cottonseed cake + spineless cactus. In Pernambuco semiarid, 1 kg of cottonseed cake supplementation improved daily average weight gain, regardless to breed of the animal during the rainy season.
cottonseed cake; cromic oxid; Opuntia ficus indica Mill; suplementation
