Influência da sombra no ganho de peso de vacas em terminação

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the difference in weight gain in adult cows in termination with and without access to artificial shade. The research was carried out from March 17 to May 1, 2012. The experimental area was divided into two paddocks of 10 acres each, which form the treatments allocated Sun and Shadow The shadow consists of a timber without sides covered with two screens for shading fitela 50% overlap, forming 40 m². We used 20 adult cows with Zebu crossbred Europe, with an average initial weight of 310 kg, were randomly divided into two groups of 10 animals. Where these animals remained exclusively in the field with high forage supply. The variables evaluated were average daily gain and total weight gain per animal where the sun had lot of GMD 1.52 kg and 68.3 kg of total gain, since the shadow lot of GMD was 1.49 and 67.1 kg total gain. Statistical analysis was by comparison of means using the Tukey test at 5% significance level, by means of the statistical package R. The analyzes showed no differences for average daily gain and weight gain between treatments. Conclude that, during the evaluation period and under the conditions of this experiment, the presence or absence of shade did not affect the performance of finishing cattle.