Brazil beef producers adopt intensive supplementation to boost cattle weight gain

With the onset of the dry season and declining pasture quality across much of Brazil, beef producers are turning to intensive supplementation during the final finishing phase, known as Terminação Intensiva a Pasto (TIP). The practice reduces reliance on grass, accelerates daily weight gain from around 0.5 kg to over 1.2 kg per animal, and improves carcass finish.

Supremax nutrition manager Mariana Lisboa explains that the optimal moment to intensify supplementation is when pasture growth slows or cattle reach about 13–14 arrobas. By providing a balanced mix of energy and protein, the system also lessens grazing pressure, helping pasture recovery and preventing soil degradation. Economically, faster finishing shortens capital turnover time and lowers fixed costs per head, benefitting producers and enabling better herd management.

The approach requires careful management, including gradual diet transitions and adequate feedlot facilities, to avoid metabolic disorders in the herd.