Desempenho de novilhos Nelore suplementados com cromo orgânico injetável

Abstract

Minerals play a fundamental role in several reactions in animal metabolism, acting in the most different organic systems with a diversity of functions and directly influencing bovine performance. In this sense, the use of organic minerals in ruminant feed has provided positive responses in production, as is the case of organic chromium (Cr). The objective of the study was to evaluate the physiological performance of Nelore yearling steers when supplemented with injectable organic chromium, as a viable source for nutrition and development of yearling steers intended for beef production. The experiment was conducted in an entirely randomized design, with three treatments (T1 - control, no organic chrome supplementation; T2 - organic chrome supplementation, 5 mL/animal applied at 14 day intervals and T3 - organic chrome supplementation, 5 mL/animal applied at 28 day intervals), 10 repetitions over a 56 day experimental period. Organic chromium supplementation improved the weight performance of yearling steers (21.90% higher). This better performance can be explained by changes in the metabolic profile of supplemented animals, and it can be concluded that organic chromium supplementation in Nelore male cattle recently weaned allows additional weight gain without compromising the metabolic profile of glucose in these animals.