The aim of this experiment was to evaluate the association of vetch (Vica sativa) or energy supplementation in oat (Avena sativa) on the performance of steers in the finishing phase. The experiment was performed in 18 steers, quarter Marchegiana, quarter Aberdeen Angus and 2/4 Nellore genetic groups, with the live weight and age of 360kg and 19 months, respectively, divided into three treatments: pasture white oat, pasture white oat intercropped with vetch and oat pasture with energetic supplementation with the basis of ground corn (1% body weight per day in dry matter). The experimental design was a randomized block design with three treatments and three replications. The interaction was observed by the period of evaluation and treatments for the participation of oat leaf in grassland. The participation of vetches increased in the course of the experiment from 3.51% to 12.21% as opposed to the participation of oat, which decreased in the course of the experiment in all treatments. No significant difference (P>0.05) was found for the forage mass, stoking rate, forage offer and rate of daily accumulation between treatments. The animals that received supplementation showed higher (P <0.05) average daily weight gain (1.08kg/day), live weight gain for ha (4.47kg/ha/day) and total live weight gain (242.82kg) compared with those animals that received only oat (0.68kg, 2.50kg/ha/day; 123.49kg, respectively). While the animals that have remained in pasture with oat and vetch showed intermediate results (0.89kg/day, 2.99kg/ha/day and 154.26kg, respectively) the final weight was better in the treatment with supplementation (424.44kg). The energy supplementation with oat pasture is presented as the best alternative to improve animal performance. Nevertheless, the oat plus vetch is an alternative when the supplement (corn grain) has a high cost, once the animal performance was lower, but it was not different from the energetic supplementation.
Avena sativa L.; stoking rate; the forage mass; vetch
