The beef heifers performance from eight to twelve months of age was evaluated in exclusive Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) pasture, ryegrass plus red clover (Trifolium pratense) LE 116 or in ryegrass pasture receiving supplement in proportion of 1% BW. The continuous grazing method with variable stocking rate was used. The supplement used was a commercial ration, with 17% of crude protein, 23.6% of neutral detergent fiber and 59.6% of total digestible nutrients. The means values of forage mass and offer and leaf blade offer were 1327.2 kg/ha of DM and 10.5 and 3.7 kg of DM/100 kg of BW, respectively. The daily body weight gain was similar for beef heifers receiving supplement or in Italian ryegrass plus red clover, with mean value of 1039 grams. The stocking rate and body gain per area were higher when animals were supplemented. The use of supplementation for grazing heifers caused additive effect on the total dry matter intake and replacement in the grass dry matter intake.
body condition score; leaf blade on offer; supplementation; Trifolium pratense
