This work was carried outo to evaluate the effect of levels of energetic supplementation in productive and reproductive performance of sixty-four Charolais heifers and their crosses with Nellore, mantained in cultivated pasture of black oat (Avena strigosa Schreb) plus Italian ryegrass (Lulium mulktiflorum Lam.). The treatments considered supplementation of 0; 0.7 and 1.4% of the live weight (LW)/day of rice bran associated with citric pulp, in the proportion of 1:1. A continuous grazing system with variable stocking rate was used, to maintain 1500 kg/ha of DM in herbage mass in all treatments. The following parameters were evaluated: average daily gain, stocking rate, live weight gain, body condition, pelvic area, weight at puberty and age at puberty, hip height and estimated intake of DM. The supplementation increased average daily gain, stocking rate and live weight gain. Heifers kept only on pasture had lower body conditions and showed lower heat percentage than heifers supplemented with 0.7 and 1.4% of LW/day with no differences (P>0.05) between the 0.7 and 1.4% levels. The percentage of heifers showing heat until 16 months of age was 9.1; 68.7 and 70.6%, respectively. The supplementations levels did not affect pelvic area, age at puberty and hip height. The estimated intake of DM was lower for the level of 1.4 % LW/day.
oat; ryegrass; rice bran; citrus pulp; animal production; puberty
