$uplementa Certo 14.09-12-rc

The Certo Supplementation tool is a software application designed to evaluate the cost-benefit ratio of grazing supplementation practices, developed through a collaboration between Embrapa Gado de Corte and the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS).

It represents the first mobile application by Embrapa aimed at assisting cattle producers in making informed nutritional management decisions for beef cattle.

This tool allows small, medium, and large-scale producers within the beef industry to compare the performance outcomes of various supplementation products from different brands. It also facilitates comparisons between two distinct supplementation strategies: protein salt supplementation and semi-confinement. All of these functions are accessible via Android-enabled smartphones or tablets, with no internet connection required for operation.

The application features an intuitive interface designed to minimize data input, enabling users to quickly compare two products within a chosen strategy or directly evaluate one strategy against another—whether it be protein supplementation or semi-confinement.

Upon inputting information about the products and the specific animal lot to be supplemented, users can generate comparative analysis results, including:

• Supplementation margin: The difference between revenue and costs associated with the strategy or product;
• Break-even point for weight gain: The weight gain at which revenue equals expenses, resulting in zero net profit;
• Return on investment: The monetary return in Reais for each Real invested.

These outputs enable producers to choose the most advantageous option—whether maximizing margin, optimizing return per real invested, or selecting the strategy with the lowest break-even point. This support facilitates more secure decision-making aimed at maximizing operational outcomes.

The application simplifies data input by offering suggested values or warnings when entered data diverge from established research parameters. For example, if a protein supplementation gain exceeds 400 grams per head per day—considered the maximum realistic value during dry periods—the user receives a notification indicating that the figure appears unusually high. Similarly, for semi-confinement scenarios, values exceeding 1,000 grams per head per day trigger a warning. The tool also flags when assessments are made outside the typical dry season. Nonetheless, users may proceed regardless of warnings based on their own judgment.

An important feature of the app is its guidance on the minimum number of feeding troughs required for a given animal lot—an often-overlooked factor directly influencing supplementation success. The recommended number varies according to supplementation strategy (protein salt versus semi-confinement), animal size, and lot size, providing critical insights to prevent suboptimal results and help realize the full potential of nutritional interventions.

The development of this application was carried out by the Laboratory for Precision Livestock, Environment and Software Engineering (PLEASE Lab) at Embrapa Gado de Corte, in partnership with the Faculty of Computing (FACOM) at UFMS. It reflects Embrapa’s ongoing commitment to delivering technological solutions that enhance productivity within the beef supply chain.