USO DA TÉCNICA DE CREEP FEEDING NA SUPLEMENTAÇÃO DE BEZERROS DE CORTE

Abstract

used, which only the calves have access to. This technique can be used from the first month of life, being of greater importance from the calf's third month onwards, as during this period the mother's milk does not meet all the daily needs for early development. Currently, with high market demand, it is necessary for producers to update themselves and be able to implement techniques in cattle breeding that allow for optimal herd performance in the shortest possible time. It is important to manage creep feeding properly to avoid problems such as excessive feed consumption by calves, food waste and unnecessary costs. Furthermore, the quality and type of feed used in this system must be carefully selected to meet the specific nutritional needs of growing calves. The use of creep feeding has shown excellent results in the evaluated experiments, such as weight gain in calves and return of the matrix's body and reproductive score, where they have been increasingly used on properties seeking to improve the herd's production efficiency in shorter production times. The objective of this literature review is to describe the use of the creep feeding technique for beef calves to improve the performance of the animals at weaning.