Aspectos zootécnicos na produção de bovinos de corte em sistema intensivo de terminação no município de Governador Nunes Freire-MA

Abstract

Beef cattle production plays a fundamental role in Brazilian agribusiness, and feedlot systems have been widely adopted as a strategy to intensify production and improve productive efficiency. This study aimed to evaluate a high-grain feedlot system for beef cattle on a farm located in the municipality of Governador Nunes Freire, Maranhão, Brazil, analyzing aspects related to facilities, feeding management, productive performance, health management, and economic viability. The research was conducted as a case study using data collected directly from the farm during the feedlot period. A total of 113 crossbred and Nellore-type cattle were evaluated over a 90-day finishing period, receiving a diet composed of whole corn grain and a protein-mineral supplement. The animals presented an average initial weight of 350 kg and an average final weight of 500 kg, resulting in an average daily gain of 1.67 kg/day and a feed conversion ratio of 6.6:1. The feeding management adopted, combined with the highconcentrate diet, contributed to maintaining herd health and achieving satisfactory productive performance. The economic analysis showed that feed costs represented the largest share of the feedlot expenses, especially those related to corn grain and protein-mineral supplement. It was concluded that the high-grain feedlot system provided satisfactory productive performance and demonstrated potential economic viability, representing an efficient alternative for finishing beef cattle in the studied region