The effect of creep feeding on average daily gain (ADG) and weaning weight (WW) of calves and pregnancy rate of dams was evaluated in Nelore cattle on Brachiaria Brizantha pasture. In a complete randomized design, calves were divided into two treatments: T1, the control group and T2, in which calves were provided a supplemental diet containing 20% CP and 75% TDN from 92 days after birth until weaning. The 102 primiparous cows were in low body condition at beginning of breeding season. Average daily consumption of the creep ration was 0.61kg per calf. WW averaged 155.10±2.72kg and 163.80±2.53 and for T1 and T2 calves, respectively (P<0.01); while ADG averaged 0.59±0.015kg and 0.64±0.014 respectively (P<0.05). Pregnancy rate did not differ between treatment groups (P>0.05). Thus, creep feeding can improve WW and preweaning ADG of Nelore calves but may not affect pregnancy rate of primiparous cows in low body condition at the start of the mating.
creep feeding; preweaning growth; pregnancy rate; Nelore; primiparous cows
