Evolution of the live weight and morphological characteristics of calves of three biotypes Brahman, Nelore and Criollo from birth to weaning on natural grassland

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate the bovinometric measurements and live weight of bovine animals of three racial biotypes maintained on natural pasture. The study was carried out in the Estancia Barrerito, from September 2017 to April 2018. It was based on an analytical observational study, analyzing racial biotypes (Brahman, Nelore and Criollo) and calving season (head, medium and tail). The select animals were 220 claves (born in 2017). The parameters evaluated were live weigh, thoracic perimeter (TP) and hip height (HH) at birth and live weigh, thoracic perimeter (TP) and hip height (HH) at weaning be standardized to 205 days-of-age. The results were subjected to an analysis of variance and the means that presented statistically significant differences were compared with the Tukey test at a 5% probability of error. The weights at birth of Nelore were similar to the other evaluated biotypes which were not influenced by the calving season. Weaning weights were higher in the Nelore and Criollo biotypes compared to the Brahman biotype. The TP and HH at weaning of the Nelore biotype were higher compared to the other two biotypes evaluated, which were statistically similar.