The performance, intake and digestibility were evaluated in Nellore beef calves supplemented with different energy sources in Brachiaria decumbens pasture were evaluated. The area was divided into five 6.8 ha paddocks with an availability of dry matter and potentially digestible dry matter of 4.10 and 2.38 t/ha, respectively. Forty-five animals with 96.0 ± 11.0 kg initial weight and 101 ± 12 days of age were allotted to a completely randomized experimental design, as a 5 × 2 factorial (five supplements and two sex). The following supplements were evaluated: mineral mix (MM), control group; soybean meal (SM) + ground corn grain (GCG) and mineral mix; soybean meal + wheat meal + ground corn grain and mineral mix; soybean meal + rice meal and mineral mix; soybean meal + ground sorghum grain + ground corn grain and mineral mix; supplied daily at the amount of 60 g/animal for the control group and 500 g for the other diets, respectively. There was statistical significance for the animals that received supplementation with ground corn grain and ground sorghum grain that showed an additional average daily gain of 100 g (16.39%) higher than the animals that received only mineral mix. The use of multiple supplements based on ground sorghum grain and corn grain increased dry matter intake and forage organic matter more than the diet with ground corn grain. The supplementation with energy sources with ground sorghum grain and corn grain can provide additional average daily gain and increase in forage intake, in animals in creep-feeding.
daily gain; energy supplementation; pasture; phase of lactation
