Abstract

LOPEZ, O; LAMELA, L  and  SANCHEZ, Tania. Influence of the body condition of Mambí heifers at parturition on the postpartum reproductive performance. Pastos y Forrajes [online]. 2007, vol.30, n.2, pp. 1-1. ISSN 0864-0394.

A total of 105 Mambí heifers were studied in a multi-associated silvopastoral system, in the dairy 066 of the Livestock Genetic Firm of Matanzas, with the objective of evaluating the influence of the body condition of the heifers at parturition on the postpartum reproductive performance. The area of the unit is 47 ha, of which 42 ha were dedicated to grazing, divided into 37 paddocks, and the other 5 were used for forage production from sugarcane. The stocking rate was 1,7 cows/ha. The body condition (BC) of the heifers at parturition was monitored, the live weight of the animals was estimated, the feeding balance for the nine months-pregnant cows was calculated and the reproductive indicators were determined. A slight energy deficiency of 5% was found only in the dry season, while there was excess of crude protein, calcium and phosphorus in both seasons. The BC of the heifers at parturition was above 3 in all the two-month periods of the year, with the highest values in July-August (3,5) and the lowest in May-June (3,1); besides, in both seasons the average BC of the animals was similar (3,3). The weight of the calves at birth did not show differences for the different ranges of BC and it was between 36,5 and 38,7 kg/animal. The cows that gave birth with 2,5 BC showed a parturition-first service interval (P<0,05) and parturition-pregnancy interval (P<0,01) significantly higher (170 and 258, respectively) than the ones that gave birth with a BC between 3 and 4 (90-125 and 120-175 for the parturition-first service (PSI) and parturition-pregnancy (PPI) intervals, respectively). The number of services per pregnancy was also higher (P<0,01) in the cows that gave birth with 2,5 BC (3) as compared to the ones that did with 3-4 BC (1,5-1,7). The results showed that the first parturition Mambí heifers that gave birth with a BC lower than 3 showed worse reproductive indicators than those of the heifers with BC equal to or higher than 3.

Keywords : Body condition; reproduction; silvopastoral systems.

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