Growth curve in crossbred Santa Inês x Texel ovines raised in the southwestern region of Bahia state

Abstract

The present study had the objective to analyze the application of non-linear models to describe the growth of crossbred Santa Inês x Texel sheep and, then define the best adjusted model, to evaluate the influence of environmental factors (sex, birth month and type of parturition) over curve parameters. Data based on 24 weights, 15 days each, of 75 animals from birth up to 365 days of age were used. The non-linear models evaluated were: Brody, Von Bertalanffy, Richards, Logistic and Gompertz. The models Von Bertalanffy and Gompertz presented the best adjustment at the initial growth period. However, the Logistic model provided the best adjustment from 120 days of age and the lowest genetic divergence in relation to the observed average weight and, therefore, it was considered the more appropriate growth model within the studied period. An accentuated decrease in the absolute growth rate was observed after weaning and nutritional strategies should be performed to avoid the low weight gain at this stage. Environmental factors had no effects on the Logistic curve parameters, excepting the parturition kind, which influenced the parameter m. The correlation estimated between the parameters A and k was negative (-0.44), indicating that fast-growing young animals are less likely to reach higher weights when adults.