Young calves production in native, mixed or cultivated pastures in the Pantanal, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
Abstract
The productive performance of 8, 9 and 10 month old calves raised, in pastures in the sub-area Nhecolândia.,was evaluated, in Pantanal, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, for young calves slaughter. Fifty four calves were used, 27 males and 27 females in a randomized block, with a 3x3 factorial design (three pastures and three slaughter ages). The pastures were 1-native grass pasture, composed by Axonopus purpusii, Andropogon bicornis and Elyonurus muticus, 2-cultivated pasture, composed by Brachiaria decumbens and B. humidicula, and 3-mixed, composed by native grass and cultivated pasture. There was significant interaction (P<.05) between slaughter age and pasture type. The animals with 8 and 10 months old that grew on mixed pastures presented higher slaughter weight (SW), higher average daily gain (ADG) and carcass weight (CW), compared to animals in native or cultivated pastures. Animals in mixed pasture and slaughtered with 8 months old presented ADG of 0.83 kg/day, while animals maintained in native and cultivated pastures presented 0.65 and 0.59kg/day, respectively. For animals slaughtered with 9 months old, ADG were 0.55; 0.61 and 0.64 kg/day; and, for those slaughtered with 10 months, the averages were 0.48; 0.73 and 0.51kg/day, respectively, for native, mixed and cultivated pastures. The carcass yield was not influenced by slaughter age, for native and mixed pastures. There was not significant sex effect for any of the evaluated variables. The slaughter of male or female calves, raised in mixed or cultivated pastures, between 8 and 10 months old, is recommended for veal production.Downloads
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Published
2008-09-23
Issue
Section
Animal Production and Environment
License
Todo o conteúdo deste periódico, exceto onde está identificado, está licenciado sob uma Licença Creative Commons